LUTH Reaffirms Commitment to Safe Care for Newborns and Children on World Patient Safety Day 2025

The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on 17th September 2025 joined the global community in commemorating World Patient Safety Day at Hall 36. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every Child” with the slogan “Patient Safety from the Start.”
The event opened with an introductory remark by the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Wasiu Adeyemo(FAS), who welcomed Top Management, Heads of Departments, Deputy Directors, Staff, and Students. He described the occasion as a special one, reminding all that the central focus of the gathering was the patients. In his remarks, the CMD noted that “LUTH of 20 years ago is not the same as LUTH today,” commending the Federal Government’s support and assuring patients of the hospital’s commitment to excellence.

Speaking at the event, the Keynote speaker, Prof. Iretiola Fajolu, a consultant paediatrician at LUTH, emphasized that patient safety means the prevention of harm and reduction of unnecessary risks. She explained that newborns are highly vulnerable as they cannot speak for themselves, stressing that a single safety incident can have lifelong consequences. She outlined common sources of harm such as missed warning signs, delays or misdiagnosis, medication errors, infections, equipment failures, and communication gaps.
Prof. Fajolu also highlighted barriers to safe pediatric care, including staff shortages, inadequate training, poor communication across healthcare levels, and resource limitations. She called for the involvement of policymakers, healthcare providers, caregivers, and communities in ensuring safe care. She further recommended continuous staff training, improved resources, awareness creation, family involvement, and adherence to global safety benchmarks such as WHO guidelines. In conclusion, she stressed that children are not “small adults” and require individualized care, adding that patient safety is the right of every newborn and child, and the responsibility of all.

Some patients also shared their experiences at LUTH, Mrs. Basirat Aregbe testified that though she had been reluctant to use LUTH due to negative stories, her experience proved otherwise. She praised the Hospital’s quality of care, likening it's standards to those in Indian Hospitals, and appealed for more government support.
Similarly, Mrs. Felicia Ojo shared that although hesitant at first, her experience was positive. She narrated how she had her baby at 26 weeks weighing only 900 grams, and today the child is three years old. She commended the doctors and nurses at the neonatal ward for their dedication, constant communication, and quality care. However, she emphasized that the major challenge remains inadequate equipment, appealing to the government to provide more resources to further reduce infant and patient mortality rates.

Also present at the event was Chairman Medical advisory committee (CMAC) Prof. Ayodeji Oluwole, Director of Administration, Ms. Omolola Fakeye (JP); the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (Clinical Services), Dr. Babawale Bello; and the Director of Corporate Services, Mrs. Patricia Enwezor amongst others.

The vote of thanks was delivered by the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee (DCMAC), Dr. Rufus Ojewola, who appreciated all stakeholders, dignitaries, staff, patients, and caregivers for their presence and contributions. He reaffirmed that patient safety will continue to remain at the heart of LUTH’s operations.
The event concluded with a reaffirmation by the Hospital Management of its commitment to advancing safe practices for every newborn and child,in keeping with the global vision of World Patient Safety Day.”