Media Release

Mangaluru, Sep 4: World Patient Safety Day was observed on September 20 at Yenepoya Medical College Hospital (YMCH) with the theme ‘Safe care for every newborn and every child’ and the slogan ‘Patient Safety from the start.’ The event was organized by the Hospital Safety Committee and the Quality Section.

The programme began with an interactive session on the topic ‘Behavior handling of a child’ for the nursing staff conducted by Reeti Rastogi - Clinical Psychologist at YMCH. The programme was hosted by Venessa Moras, assistant quality officer and member secretary of the Hospital Safety Committee.

The formal ceremony featured distinguished dignitaries - Dr Prakash R M Saldanha, vice principal of YMC as guest of honor and Dr Habib Rahaman A A, medical superintendent, YMCH as the presiding officer. Sathya Devi, nursing superintendent, Dr Sheetal Savur, HOD and professor, Department of Ophthalmogy and chairperson of the Hospital Safety Committee along with Dr Vijeta Thingalaya, quality officer YMCH were present on the dais.

Dr Sheetal Savur welcomed the gathering followed by a keynote address from Dr Vijeta Thingalaya. Along with highlights of activities conducted, the clinical and nursing team were applauded for their ongoing daily efforts towards patient care. Dr Prakash R M Saldanha spoke on the collective responsibility of ensuring patient safety while Dr Habib Rahaman stressed the importance of effective communication with patients and their families as well as ongoing improvements in patient care and hospital facilities.

In line with the day’s observance, four awareness posters focusing on Adolescents’ Mental Health, Postpartum Mental Health, Adolescent Safety (including Nutrition and Immunization), and Safe and Healthy Pregnancy were unveiled. These were collaboratively designed by the Department of Psychiatry, General Medicine, and Obstetrics & Gynecology. The department representatives involved in the poster designs, speaker for the session and staff featured in an awareness video were felicitated. An awareness video on Adolescent Safety, by Dr Diksha Shirodkar, assistant professor and pediatric endocrinologist, was launched in the presence of the dignitaries. The event was concluded with vote of thanks delivered by Noothan Lasrado, deputy nursing superintendent and patient safety officer.