The Kwara State Government has cautioned residents living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) against self-medication and the unsupervised combination of prescribed drugs with herbal remedies, warning that such practices could expose patients to avoidable complications.
The warning was issued as the state joined other stakeholders to commemorate the 2026 World Patient Safety Day, with health authorities stressing the need for patients undergoing long-term treatment to adhere strictly to professional medical advice.
The Commissioner for Health, Amina El-Imam, who spoke on Monday through the Deputy Director of Public Health, Kasali Ajao, at a sensitisation programme organised by the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital (KWASUTH), Ilorin, said patient safety was particularly important in the management of chronic illnesses.
“Patient safety is essential to preventing avoidable complications in the treatment and long-term management of non-communicable diseases,” the commissioner said.
El-Imam said the state government remained committed to providing quality, safe and patient-centred healthcare services, adding that measures were being taken to strengthen healthcare delivery through the engagement of qualified health professionals and other interventions.
She explained that the sensitisation programme was designed to provide healthcare workers, patients and caregivers with practical information on how to reduce preventable complications and promote safer treatment practices among people living with NCDs.
The programme attracted participants from the 16 local government areas of the state and was held under the theme, “Safe Care for Non-Communicable Diseases,” with the slogan, “Safe Care for Life.”
Speaking on medication safety, the Assistant Chief Nursing Officer in the Family Medicine Department of KWASUTH, Mgbemena Maria, urged patients to comply with prescriptions issued by healthcare professionals and resist the temptation to introduce additional medicines without proper guidance.
Mgbemena specifically warned against combining prescribed medicines with herbal preparations or other medications without first consulting a healthcare professional.
“Patients should seek medical advice before combining prescribed medicines with herbal remedies and other medications,” she said.
She also advised patients against self-medication, urging them to report unusual or unexpected symptoms to healthcare professionals promptly instead of attempting to treat such symptoms independently.
According to her, NCDs such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases often require prolonged treatment, regular monitoring and sustained patient involvement.
She encouraged people living with these conditions to keep regular medical appointments and monitor their blood pressure and blood sugar levels as recommended by their healthcare providers.
Beyond medication, Mgbemena advised patients to adopt healthy lifestyle practices capable of supporting their overall wellbeing and complementing prescribed treatment. These, she said, include maintaining proper nutrition and engaging in regular physical activity appropriate to individual health conditions.
She further cautioned residents against tobacco smoking and other harmful substances, while highlighting the importance of adequate rest, stress management and family support in the care of people living with chronic diseases.
Earlier, the Assistant Chief Scientific Officer of the Kwara State Ministry of Health, Olaseinde Olubukola, said improving patient safety could not be achieved by healthcare professionals alone, stressing the importance of active participation by patients and caregivers.
“Patient safety is a collective responsibility of healthcare providers, patients and caregivers, particularly in the management of chronic illnesses that often require long-term care,” Olubukola said.
She called for sustained public education on NCDs and safer healthcare practices, particularly for patients whose conditions require long-term medication, monitoring and follow-up.
The sensitisation programme was part of activities marking World Patient Safety Day and focused on strengthening awareness of safe treatment practices while encouraging patients, caregivers and healthcare workers to work together to reduce avoidable harm in the management of chronic diseases.