The Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Caroline Reindorf Amissah, says the delivery of high-quality healthcare is a non-negotiable duty that must be pursued through financial investments, dedicated health professionals, and empowered communities.

She stressed that quality and safe care for patients, especially newborns and children, could only be achieved when adequate resources were available, while practitioners uphold their professional responsibility, as well as citizens actively demand better services.

Dr Amissah made the remarks at the 2025 National Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Conference in Accra, organised by the GHS to mark World Patient Safety Day on the theme: “Safe Care for Every Newborn and Every Child.”

The conference brought together key stakeholders, including officials from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Paediatric Society of Ghana, development partners and Civil Society Organisations.

The event provided a platform to share best practices, showcase innovative models, and commit to scaling interventions that guarantee safer outcomes for every newborn.

Delivering a speech on behalf of Professor Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, Director-General of the GHS, Dr Amissah underscored the centrality of finance to health delivery.

“Without sustainable resources, policies and guidelines remain only on paper,” she said, calling on government, the private sector, and development partners to strengthen financial flows.

She emphasised the need to ensure the availability of essential commodities such as oxygen, neonatal resuscitation kits, and medicines at all levels of care, while prioritising equity so that rural communities are not left behind.

Dr Amissah noted that patient safety was not just a professional standard but a moral obligation.

“Safe care does not happen in isolation; it is co-produced with families and communities. Mothers and fathers must be empowered to recognise danger signs, demand quality services, and adhere to postnatal guidance. We must build a country where families are active partners, not passive recipients,” she said.

According to the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey, the neonatal mortality rate stood at 17 deaths per 1,000 live births, infant mortality at 28 deaths per 1,000, and under-five mortality at 40 deaths per 1,000. While maternal deaths reduced from 875 in 2021 to about 805 in 2022, newborns still accounted for more than half of infant deaths.

Dr Isabella Ami Sagoe-Moses, Child Health Specialist and guest speaker, highlighted progress in reducing child mortality but called for continuous skills upgrading and stronger accountability within the healthcare sector.

On her part, Dr Fiona Braka, WHO Country Representative, stressed the importance of clinical mentorship in strengthening healthcare quality. She explained that the colour orange, worn on World Patient Safety Day, symbolises hope and safety.

The conference climaxed with the launch of a Patient Safety Strategy by the GHS and partners to improve healthcare quality for newborns and children nationwide. The initiative received strong support from traditional leaders, families, and caregivers.