KAPI – Industry Alliance of Health Products and Technologies, in collaboration with the Medical Technology Industry Association of Kenya (MEDAK) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya (PSK), marked World Patient Safety Day on 17 September 2026 with an educational webinar facilitated by Dr. Dorothy Aywak, a senior specialist pharmacist and Head of the Pharmacovigilance, Poison and Drug Information Unit at Kenyatta National Hospital. The webinar focused on preventing and safely managing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The event reflected the 2026 global theme, “Safe care for non communicable diseases” along with the slogan “safe care for life!”
On 18th September at the arboretum grounds, KAPI Industry Alliance of Health Products and technologies and MEDAK also held a fitness and wellness session promoting physical activity, healthy lifestyles and greater awareness of the steps individuals can take to reduce their risk of NCDs.
NCDs are long-term conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NCDs account for 74% of deaths worldwide[i]. People living with these conditions often require ongoing treatment and regular interaction with health services, increasing their potential exposure to preventable harm.
Globally, one in ten patients experiences harm during healthcare, and around half of this harm is considered preventable[ii]. The WHO’s 2026 campaign therefore calls for safety risks to be addressed throughout the care journey, from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, treatment and long-term management.
Prevention and early action
The webinar highlighted five major NCD risk factors: tobacco use, physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets and air pollution.
Participants were encouraged to support prevention and early action through routine health screening, timely treatment and regular monitoring of indicators such as blood pressure and blood glucose.
During the wellness session, MP Shah Hospital offered free BMI assessments, blood glucose testing and blood pressure checks to support the early detection and management of noncommunicable diseases.
The accompanying fitness and wellness session reinforced the role of physical activity and healthier everyday choices in preventing NCDs. It also demonstrated that patient safety begins before someone enters a healthcare facility.
Making patients “partners in care”
A central message was that people living with NCDs should be treated as active partners in their care. This means listening to their experiences, involving them in treatment decisions and providing clear information about their conditions, medicines and possible warning signs.
Community pharmacies were highlighted as accessible points of care that can support screening, patient education, medication monitoring, adherence and timely referral to health facilities.
Supporting medication safety
The webinar also emphasized the correct use and storage of medicines and medical devices, routine monitoring, clear instructions and awareness of potential side effects. Participants were reminded that promptly reporting suspected adverse drug reactions can help prevent harm and strengthen medicine-safety monitoring.
The session concluded with a call for healthcare professionals to integrate at least one additional patient-safety practice into their daily work. Suggested actions included educating patients about warning signs, reporting suspected adverse reactions, involving patients in treatment decisions and strengthening self-care counselling.
Through the webinar and wellness session, KAPI Industry Alliance of Health Products and technologies reaffirmed the importance of combining prevention, patient education, healthy lifestyles and safe, patient-centred care in the response to NCDs.
[i] World Health Organization. (2026). World Patient Safety Day 2026: Safe care for life! https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-patient-safety-day/2026
[ii] World Health Organization. (2026). World Patient Safety Day 2026: Safe care for life! https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-patient-safety-day/2026