Dr Asmah (left) hands over an award to a nurse for the hand hygiene compliance category while Dr Ngian looks on.
Dr Asmah flanked by Dr Ngian (left) and pharmacist Ling Siong Ching during the launch of the Patient Safety Awareness Week 2015.
SIBU: The Safety Awareness Week of the Sibu Hospital began yesterday and will end on Friday.
Deputy state health director Dr Asmah Nazahiyah Zaid, launched the annual campaign in the presence of hospital director Dr Ngian Hie Ung.
According to Dr Ngian, the main objective was to create patient safety awareness among all staff by making patient safety a priority in daily leadership and management.
“Therefore, every year we organised this one-week event enriched with exhibition of clinical safety information to refresh and create awareness among staff, one-day course to equip our staff with up-to-date safety knowledge, hand wash aerobic and hand wash relay to involve staff in hand hygiene awareness creatively,” she explained.
She said an award system for safety practice recognition had been implemented since 2013.
Each year, the hospital presents awards to wards which practiced well or have the greatest improvement in ward medication management, hand hygiene compliance and highest rate of acceptable blood samples.
This year, the hospital has two new awards: the Cleanest Environment Award and Safe Surgery Award.
“We hope by all means, we join our hands in safety. Together we proclaim ‘Patient Safety, Our Priority’,” she said, urging staff to treat their patients with passion.