World Patient Safety Day 2021: safe maternal and newborn care

17 September marks World Patient Safety Day, a day to enhance global understanding of patient safety, increase public engagement in the safety of health care and promote global actions to enhance patient safety and reduce patient harm. For 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) has put a particular focus on safe maternal and newborn care, urging all stakeholders to ‘Act now for safe and respectful childbirth!’ 

Discover the key statements published by FIGO, the global voice for women's health, to mark this important occasion and ensure a long-term and sustainable commitment to maternal and newborn health worldwide. Join us in supporting mothers and newborns globally by signing our statement on safe newborn and maternal care and use the social media toolkit below to make your voice heard online. 

Almost 1,000 women die every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, and around 6,700 newborns die every day, amounting to 47% of all deaths among those aged under 5. In addition, about 2 million babies are stillborn every year – more than 40% of these occur during labour. The majority of the tragic deaths of mothers and newborns during childbirth are avoidable through the provision of safe, high-quality care. 

FIGO statements on safe maternal and newborn care

View FIGO's five statements released on World Patient Safety Day 2021 and access the World Health Organization's Virtual Global Conference 'Together for safe and respectful maternal and newborn care', featuring our President-Elect, Dr Jeanne Conry.

Statement: international women's health organisations recognise world patient safety day
Statement: childbirth - a bill of rights
Statement: ethical framework for respectful maternity care during pregnancy and childbirth
     
Statement: health systems strengthening and respectful care
Statement: a model for safe childbirth
WHO visual of doctors talking

 

Support the cause for safe maternal and newborn care: a social media toolkit 

Use the following images and suggested posts to share FIGO's statements and patient safety resources with colleagues and friends. Help to share the important message of World Patient Safety Day to act now for safe and respectful childbirth, and to call for patient-centred care to be delivered equitably around the world.

Suggested assets

Image that reads 'we call for patient-centred care to be delivered equitably to patients around the world, from pre-pregnancy to postpartum'
 
visual on supportive maternity care
     
simple visual illustrating the FIGO model for safe childbirth
 
Visual for Childbirth bill of rights

Suggested posts

Join FIGO to call for patient-centred care

I'm joining @FIGOHQ in its global call for patient-centred care to be delivered equitably around the world, from pre-pregnancy to postpartum 🌍

Sign the #WorldPatientSafetyDay Statement: https://survey.figo.org/c/wpsd21

Promote FIGO's patient safety resources for maternal and newborn health

On #WorldPatientSafetyDay, @FIGOHQ published essential documents to guide health care professionals in the delivery of safe & respectful maternity care across all settings.

Access the resources and find out more: http://figo.org/wpsd21

Share the Childbirth Bill of Rights

Act now for safe and respectful childbirth! The Childbirth Bill of Rights developed by @FIGOHQ, @RCObsGyn and @acog highlights nations' obligation to respect, protect & fulfil the right to maternal health. #WorldPatientSafetyDay

Find out more: http://figo.org/wpsd21