Patients & Community Mobilization Sessions
The Jahandad Society for Community Development (JSCD), in collaboration with WPA developed a comprehensive campaign and conducted more than 768 patients & community mobilization sessions to create awareness about safe healthcare and rational use of medicines.
The community was mobilized using Community Action Process (CAP), which gathers a group of patients & community members of a particular vicinity and motivates them to bring about a positive change in their health facilities, communities and neighborhoods.
JSCD used its existing network in eight districts of the country including Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Bahawalnagar, and Rahim Yar Khan. In each district JSCD and WPA organized 96 CAP group meetings and informed the group about safe maternal and child heath along with medication safety and rational use of medicines. The sessions urged all stakeholders to stress the fact that we need to act now to ensure safe and respectful childbirth. The ever-increasing numbers of both maternal and newborn deaths are alarming enough that we all need to pay close attention to the matter and play our crucial roles in ensuring that we can be part of the solution and not the problem.
Seminar on Patients Safety
A provincial level seminar was held in the collaboration WPA, Punjab Health Department, WHO Country office Pakistan and Fatima Jinnah Medical University at Lahore. Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Health Minister, Punjab was the Chief Guest at this occasion.
Dr. Hussain Jafri, WPA Board member and Punjab province focal person on patient safety and quality, said that more than 134 million adverse events occur each year in hospitals in LMICs, contributing to 2.6 million deaths annually, and accounting for two thirds of the global burden of adverse events. Moreover, maternal and child mortality is one of the major health issues of the current times.
Dr. Jamshed Ahmed, Head, WHO Punjab said that “I congratulate organizers for holding an awareness seminar on patient safety and I appreciate Dr. Yasmin Rashid for her special focus on improving the maternal and child health in Punjab.
Awareness Walk
After the provincial seminar, an Awareness Walk was organized by the WPA and its members Alzheimer’s Pakistan, Thalassemia Society of Pakistan, and Jahandad Society for Community Development in collaboration with WHO country office and Punjab Health Department. Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Health Minister, Punjab also participated in the walk. Other participants included health officials, WHO country staff, WPA member organizations and faculty, and staff and students of the Fatima Jinnah Medical University Lahore.
Awareness Campaign at 3500 health facilities
WPA and its member organizations, in collaboration with Punjab Health Department and WHO Pakistan office, developed posters and streamers which highlighted the messages of this year’s theme of Safe Maternal and Newborn Care and all stakeholders were urged to “Act now for safe and respectful childbirth!”. Posters were displayed in all 3,500 public health facilities in Punjab in patient areas as well as in doctors’ clinics at these health facilities.
Roadside Publicity
In addition, roadside streamers were also displayed on key roads of Lahore. The streamers targeted the general population with the messages of this year’s theme.
Dr. Yasmin Rashid said that the WPSD gives us an opportunity to renew pledge for safe treatment of patients. The maternal and child health and patient safety are the top priorities of the government, as these are the main themes of the Punjab Health Sector Strategy 2019 – 2028. She said that the government is building seven new maternal and child health hospitals in Lahore, Mianwali, Attock, Rajanpur, Layyah, Multan, and Bahawalnagar.
Media Campaign
In addition, the Health Department of Punjab extensively promoted WPSD through social media posts all day.
The WPSD activities were widely featured in both print and electronic media. The Inaugural Seminar on WPSD on 17th Sept 2021 was covered live by leading national TV channels.