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World Patient Safety Day: Care Haven’s Commitment to Vulnerable Communities

The World Health Organization recognises patient safety as a global health priority. It endorses the establishment of World Patient Safety Day which is observed annually on 17 September, to raise awareness and encourage meaningful action among countries and international partners.

As an organisation that works daily with sick and vulnerable people, Care Haven Psychiatric Centre in Gqeberha understands the importance of ensuring patients’ safety.

Established in 1986, Care Haven is one of FoodForward SA’s Beneficiary Organisations (BOs), offering aftercare services for patients discharged from the hospital who have nowhere else to go. Care Haven is also the oldest psychiatric aftercare centre in the Eastern Cape.

Prioritising Patient Safety: A Commitment to Care

Accommodating 70 residents across two locations, FoodForward SA’s Bukhosi Kotsiwe recently spoke with Liezl Steenkamp from Care Haven about the critical importance of ensuring not only the safety of their residents but also the significance of good nutrition.

Some of the most common safety risks that are observed in healthcare are errors with medication; in which case patients take medication incorrectly, whether it is due to misdiagnosis, self-medicating, or misinformation on how to use certain medications correctly,” says Liezl.

“Misinformation on how to treat a patient or administer treatment is an easy way to increase the health risks and complications for a patient. There is always an open line of communication available at Care Haven for residents, their families, and members of the community who need information, particularly regarding mental healthcare.

“Healthcare providers should be able to provide the necessary information to both patients and their families regarding potential health and safety risks, and the individual needs of the patient according to their diagnosis.

“Spreading awareness and knowledge in order to improve the lives of their patients is one of the duties of healthcare professionals.

The Impact of FoodForward on Care Haven’s Residents

“FoodForward has played a crucial role in allowing Care Haven to provide nutritional meals to our residents, and in doing so, has helped us to not only provide a healthier lifestyle for the residents but has also allowed Care Haven to provide better healthcare services.”

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