Rossana Francisco lost her mother, a nurse, when she was just nine years old, an experience that inspired her to dedicate her life to caring for others. Now 26, Rossana is completing her nursing degree at the Private University of Angola (UPRA) and is currently interning in the gynecology and obstetrics department at Luanda General Hospital. She finds fulfillment in assisting deliveries and ensuring newborns receive essential first care.
At university, Rossana learned about the Health Circle, an initiative by the World Health Organization in Angola in partnership with UPRA, which brings together decision-makers, experts, and the public to discuss health challenges and solutions. By participating in its third edition, she sought to deepen her knowledge of patient safety, particularly for newborns and children.
The event, themed “Patient safety from birth!”, aimed to mobilize health professionals, families, educators, and civil society to reduce risks and prevent avoidable harm in pediatric care. Dr. Natércia de Almeida of WHO emphasized that ensuring error-free pediatric care is both a clinical priority and a social and human commitment, highlighting every child’s right to be born and grow up safely.
During the discussions, participants addressed challenges such as limited resources, service overload, and the need for continuous education of health professionals. They also shared good practices, including safety protocols in neonatal units and active involvement of parents and caregivers.
Rossana left the event feeling more confident and prepared to apply her knowledge, noting that safety involves not only preventing errors but also listening to parents, engaging families, and providing dignified and humane care to every child.
The experiences of young professionals like Rossana demonstrate the impact of the Health Circle, which serves as both a platform for discussion and a practical tool to strengthen skills and prepare the next generation of health workers. The third edition of the initiative reinforced Angola’s alignment with WHO’s global call to place newborn and child safety at the center of health systems, contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 on Good Health and Well-Being for All.
Related Posts
