Move Against Cancer Africa | October 2025
A certain breast cancer patient once came into the clinic, low-spirited and uncertain about the journey ahead. Coincidentally, Move Against Cancer Africa (MACA) was holding an awareness campaign. After our presentation, she quietly approached our team, shared her fears, and admitted that her despair was affecting her response to treatment. We engaged her in a one-on-one conversation, reassured her, and promised that we would journey with her. That simple assurance reawakened hope within her, and today, she is responding remarkably well to treatment, soon to be declared cancer-free.
That is the power of patient advocacy and the core of true patient safety. It extends far beyond sterile protocols and clinical checklists. It is about empathy, vigilance, and compassion, recognizing that a patient is more than just a case file; they are a human being with fears, hopes, and families depending on them. This year’s World Patient Safety Day theme, “Safe care for every newborn and every child,” powerfully reminds us that protecting the most vulnerable among us requires a holistic approach, one that understands the ripple effect of care, or the lack thereof, on families and communities. When we ensure safe care for parents, we are, in effect, protecting the well-being of their children and newborns. This is a crucial, often overlooked dimension of patient safety.
From Protocols to Personal Vigilance
The story of a medical officer in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) perfectly illustrates this point. She recounted how a tiny newborn’s IV line, secured with a plaster, was causing distress. Because the baby was so small, the plaster inadvertently acted like a tourniquet, reducing blood supply to the arm. At first, the baby’s crying seemed ordinary, a common occurrence for neonates. But something urged her to look closer. As she tried to pacify the child, she noticed the cause: the plaster was restricting circulation and causing pain. She quickly adjusted it, and that simple action saved the baby’s arm.
According to her, “I learned from that experience that every little detail counts. Patient safety is not just about procedures or systems; it’s also about being alert, having the courage to take action, and being humble enough to ask questions even when things seem normal. One voice, one pause, or one observation can sometimes mean the difference between injury and recovery. This is the core of patient safety: a complex balancing act between institutional structures and the individual accountability and empathy of healthcare professionals.
The Ripple Effect
The human element of patient safety is crucial because it’s not just about numbers, it’s about people. While data on medical errors and patient harm are sobering, they represent real lives, families, and communities impacted by healthcare outcomes. A truly safe healthcare system combines rigorous protocols with the empathy and vigilance of its staff. This personal connection, the human heart of healthcare is what elevates care from being merely functional to being truly healing. It’s the difference between a patient who feels like a number and one who feels seen, heard, and cared for. A 2017 study by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that patient harm due to unsafe care is one of the top 10 leading causes of death and disability globally. In Nigeria, publications and news reports often highlight medical errors and negligence, from misdiagnoses to surgical mishaps, which erode public trust in the healthcare system. For example, a 2021 report by the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and the NigerianMedical and Dental Council (NMDC) emphasized the critical need for improved patient safety standards, particularly in pediatric and maternity care, where the stakes are highest.
The National Health Service (NHS) in the UK has demonstrated that a strong culture of patient safety, supported by continuous training and a non-punitive system for reporting errors, dramatically reduces harm. Their focus on the “Speaking Up for Safety” campaign has empowered healthcare staff to voice concerns without fear, leading to systemic improvements. This model, which combines robust protocols with a culture of open communication, is one we must aspire to replicate in Nigeria.
Moreover, breast and prostate cancers are among the most common cancers, often affecting individuals in their most productive and reproductive years. When we protect the health of these patients, we are not only saving lives but also safeguarding the health and future of their children, families, and communities. In protecting the workforce and reproductive age group, we indirectly protect the newborn and the child who depend on them. A parent fighting cancer needs more than just chemotherapy; they need the psychological and emotional support that allows them to remain a pillar for their family.
A Call to Action for Compassionate Care
Let’s transcend the theme and exemplify the spirit of 2025 World Patient Safety Day as we join the rest of the world in celebrating it. Let’s push for transparent protocols and a culture that encourages all medical professionals, from seasoned surgeons to novice nurses, to be watchful stewards of patient safety. Let’s appeal to the empathy that motivates us to give care, the human factor.
At MACA, we believe that when patients feel safe, supported, and heard, their treatment outcomes improve, and their families, especially children, benefit from the ripple effect of healthier parents and caregivers. The simple act of holding a patient’s hand, listening to their fears, or noticing a subtle change in a tiny neonate’s crying can be the difference between despair and hope, harm and healing.
We reaffirm our commitment to elevating patient voices, defending their rights, and making sure that safety, dignity, and compassion continue to be at the forefront of cancer care and other medical procedures as we commemorate World Patient Safety Day. The ultimate aims of a compassionate healthcare system are, after all, safer patients, healthier parents, protected children, and stronger communities.
References
- World Health Organization (WHO) 2017. Patient Safety: A global priority. https://www.who.int/initiatives/world-patient-safety-day/2017
- National Health Service (NHS), UK: The NHS’s “Speaking Up for Safety” campaign. NHS England. Freedom to Speak Up. https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/freedom-to-speak-up/
- Alan Ramsay, Peter Hartin, Kris McBain-Rigg, Melanie Birks. Advocating for patient safety: Power dynamics in nurse advocacy practice in Australia—An integrative review, Collegian, Volume 32, Issue 2,2025, Pages 84-99, ISSN 1322-7696, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colegn.2025.01.003. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1322769625000113)
- Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (NMDC): “Insights from reports and publications by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council (NMDC) on challenges in patient safety and professional conduct.”
- Academic and institutional studies on the impact of patient advocacy on cancer treatment outcomes. “Academic research and patient advocacy initiatives American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)”
- Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). The vital role of patient advocacy in cancer control. April 2023
Written by: Mrs Ogechukwu Akabuike
