At the occasion of the event United Against Sepsis, organised in Brussels on 9 September by the European sepsis patient organisation consortium Sepsis Stronger Together, the Belgian patient organisation Sepsibel, and the European Society for Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), Dr. Hans Kluge, Regional Director of WHO Europe delivered a strong message calling European member states to act against sepsis and welcoming the efforts of the European Sepsis Alliance. Referring to the ESA Call to Action delivered at the European Parliament last March, Dr. Kluge calls for:

A European Sepsis Plan

The inclusion of sepsis in the European preparedness and medical countermeasure strategies

Dr. Kluge also exhorts European governments to put in place national sepsis strategies and close the gap between planning and action.

The Global Sepsis Alliance is grateful for the continued support of Dr Kluge and of WHO Europe, and we look forward to joining effort and working together towards national and European sepsis plans.

We invite our member organisations and partners to share this powerful message widely.

We are now live from Geneva with '5 Facts x 5 Actions on Sepsis', featuring leaders from global health institutions discussing strategies to integrate sepsis into international health policy, researchers disclosing the latest updates, and sepsis survivors and those who lost loved ones sharing their stories.

Please use the chat function on YouTube to ask questions and interact with us. The event recording will be available immediately after the livestream has concluded.

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Co-organizers:

• Global Sepsis Alliance

• Virchow Foundation

• Health Diplomacy Alliance

• UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health

• European Sepsis Alliance

• Sepsis Stiftung

• Swiss Sepsis Program

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About the 2025 World Sepsis Day

Sepsis remains one of the leading causes of death, disability, and healthcare costs worldwide. Affecting 48.9 million people annually and responsible for nearly 1 in 5 global deaths, Sepsis is a largely invisible global health emergency. It disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including 20 million children, 26 million women, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals.

According to the latest estimates from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and the University of Oxford, in 2021 alone, Sepsis was linked to 21 million deaths (as an immediate and intermediate cause), including 4 million deaths associated with or attributable to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Since 2012, over 54,000 stakeholders from 170 countries -  including policy makers, national health authorities, healthcare providers, researchers, innovators, advocates, Sepsis survivors, families affected by this devastating medical emergency, and medical students – mark the World Sepsis Day (WSD) on September 13.

World Sepsis Day was initiated by the Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA) – the largest professional and advocacy network in the fight against Sepsis. WSD campaign events are held by GSA members and partners across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America. These campaigns include scientific conferences, training sessions, media outreach, and the launch of national, regional, or global initiatives on Sepsis literacy or advocacy.

World Sepsis Day campaigns were convened under the Patronage of Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, and the Federal Health Minister of Germany in 2023 and 2024.

2024 World Sepsis Day was marked by the historic launch of the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis at the German Parliament, the first multi-year strategy to prevent 12 million new Sepsis cases and save 2 million lives over the next 5 years.

The 2025 World Sepsis Day aims to further this momentum by emphasizing public awareness, political leadership, and strategic investments under the theme “5 Facts x 5 Actions” — to catalyze multisectoral engagement and prioritize Sepsis in global health planning.

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Objectives of the Event

The meeting aims to bring together multiple stakeholders engaged in the fight against Sepsis – pubic, private, civil society, and academic actors - to:

• Reaffirm the urgency of political commitment to the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis to prevent 12 million new cases from Sepsis and avert 2 million avoidable deaths.

• Emphasize the critical need for reinvigorated Sepsis responses at global, regional, and national levels to achieve health-related Sustainable Development Goals, including Universal Health Coverage aspirations.

• Raise awareness of the 2025 World Sepsis Day Theme “5 Facts x 5 Actions” highlighting key data and actionable steps for stronger positioning Sepsis on the Global Health Agenda.  

• Discuss strategies for catalyzing partnerships and funding streams (both traditional and innovative) to accelerate Sepsis science, research, and innovations.

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Target Audience

• Permanent Missions of the Member States to the United Nations in Geneva

• UN Agencies: WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, UNHCR, IOM

• Bi- and multilateral development agencies

• Sepsis survivors and patient organizations

• Civil society organizations and global health advocates

• Researchers, academic institutions, and Think Tanks

• Philanthropic organizations and foundations

• Private sector leaders and health innovators

• Media representatives

The wait is over – World Sepsis Day is here! Across the globe, people are coming together today and in the days ahead to shine a spotlight on sepsis through inspiring events and activities.

Want to make a difference? Beyond joining local WSD events, there are plenty of easy ways to get involved right now – online, at your workplace, or within your community.

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WSD PHOTO BOOTH

The WSD Photo Booth is updated for 2025 – fun, simple, and the perfect way to show your support for World Sepsis Day! Just click the link, snap a selfie, and make it your own with custom frames, backgrounds, logos, and more.

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Infographics, Sepsis Awareness Clips, Posters, Fact Sheet, and More Free Resources

Our WSD Toolkit Section has tons of new material in many languages – including fact sheets, Sepsis Awareness Clips (covering symptoms, sources, risk groups, and more in about 30 seconds), posters, wallpapers, and of course our WSD Infographics in nine languages, among many other things – all for free and just two clicks away. You can use the material on social media, the internet, or print it.

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Our Events

We are hosting three events this year – in Berlin, Geneva, and New York – all of them livestreamd:

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Sign the World Sepsis Declaration

The new 2030 World Sepsis Declaration sets our goals and key targets for the next decade and serves as the north star of our global efforts, jointly with the WHO Resolution on Sepsis. You can virtually sign it to show your support – think of it as a petition against sepsis.

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WSD Photo Boards

The WSD Photo Boards are a quick and easy way to raise awareness for sepsis and show your support for World Sepsis Day – print the photo board you like best, write your name on it, take a picture, and upload it to X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Snapchat, or wherever you like.

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Take/Share the World Sepsis Day Quiz

Test your knowledge about sepsis or challenge a colleague, friend, or family member. Available in a version for the general public as well as for medical professionals – in a printable PDF version…(the online version is currently offline)

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Follow Us on Social Media

We are ‘World Sepsis Day’ on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Facebook – make sure to follow us if you aren’t yet.

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Post to Your Social Media

Posting to your personal or company social media account raises awareness and helps to save lives. Templates for posts are below – it’s as simple as copying and pasting. All posts are 280 characters or less, meaning they work effortlessly on X (formerly Twitter) (but also everywhere else, of course). Most work best with a WSD Infographic or one of our Sepsis Awareness Clips…

• 1 in 5 deaths globally is associated with #sepsis. Do you know the symptoms, sources, and risk groups of sepsis? This #WorldSepsisDay, share this video with a loved one - it could save their lives! https://youtu.be/NsPDjOX8QHA

• September 13 is #WorldSepsisDay! Sepsis is the final common pathway to death from most infectious diseases worldwide, including #COVID19. These are the most common #sources of #sepsis.

• Sepsis is not only a medical #emergency but also a global health crisis, affecting between 47 and 50 million people a year - September 13 is #WorldSepsisDay. Join us in raising awareness for #sepsis - awareness saves lives! #stopsepsis #savelives

• September 13 is #WorldSepsisDay - I am/We are participating to raise #awareness for #sepsis and #WorldSepsisDay - what are you doing? Start at worldsepsisday.org and help #stopsepsis and #savelives

• September 13 is #WorldSepsisDay! While everybody can get sepsis, certain people are at an even higher risk. Join us in raising #awareness for #sepsis - awareness saves lives! #stopsepsis #savelives

• September 13 is #WorldSepsisDay! #Sepsis is a medical emergency and must be treated immediately - if you see 2 or more #symptoms act immediately. #stopsepsis #savelives

• September 13 is #WorldSepsisDay! #Sepsis is the most preventable cause of death worldwide. It can be prevented by #vaccination, #sanitation, and #awareness. Everything depends on #you! Join us and #stopsepsis #savelives

• September 13 is #WorldSepsisDay! #Sepsis does not end at hospital discharge - many #sepsissurvivors face lifelong consequences. Join us to raise awareness! #stopsepsis #savelives

• September 13 is #WorldSepsisDay! Join our global movement now - it is as easy as downloading our free #infographics or #sepsis #awareness clips from worldsepsisday.org/toolkits and posting them from your account. Raising awareness starts with #you. #stopsepsis #savelives

• I am participating in the #WorldSepsisDay #Photochallenge to raise awareness for #sepsis, a disease affecting 47 to 50 million people annually, but often neglected by #policymakers, the general public, and even #healthcare #professionals - join the global movement now!

• September 13 is #WorldSepsisDay - I am participating in the #photochallenge to raise #awareness for #sepsis and #WorldSepsisDay - what are you doing? Start at worldsepsisday.org and help #stopsepsis #savelives

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Hashtags

The official hashtags for World Sepsis Day are:

• #WorldSepsisDay

• #SepsisAwareness

• #2030GlobalSepsisAgenda

• #Sepsis

• #StopSepsis

• #SaveLives

We discourage using #WorldSepsisDay2025 or #WSD25 – if we want to “trend”, it is important we all use the same hashtags :)

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Sepsis in 3 Minutes

One of the easiest ways to let your loved ones know about sepsis remains to send them our video ‘What Is Sepsis? - Sepsis Explained in 3 Minutes’ – and it’s now available in 9 languages. The video explains many facets of the complex topic that is sepsis in just 3 minutes.

Please send the video to your loved ones – it could save their life:

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Donate to World Sepsis Day

We are a small non-profit charity trying to make the world a better place – every cent helps and will be put to good use.

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Thank you

Thank you so much for supporting World Sepsis Day – it really means the world to us.

For any questions, please contact us. Due to sheer volume, please allow us a couple of days to respond.

The Global Sepsis Alliance is honored to share the Special Video Address by Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), recorded for the occasion of World Sepsis Day 2025.

The message was first presented today at the Central Press Conference in Berlin, convened by the Global Sepsis Alliance in partnership with the Virchow Foundation, UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health, Sepsis Stiftung, German Health Alliance, and Swiss Sepsis Program. A full recording of the Press Conference is available here.

The press conference amplified the voices of patients and families affected by Sepsis in Germany and brought together leading global health and sepsis experts from Germany, Georgia, and Switzerland.

We extend our deep gratitude to Dr. Tedros for his personal commitment to the cause and for reaffirming WHO’s forthcoming publication of global guidelines on the prevention and clinical management of Sepsis.

In his address, Dr. Tedros also emphasized WHO’s ongoing work on maternal sepsis, the Acute Care Action Network (ACAN), and the critical importance of aligning responses to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and sepsis.

On behalf of the Global Sepsis Alliance, CEO Dr. Mariam Jashi and President Prof. Niranjan ‘Tex’ Kissoon express sincere appreciation to WHO Director-General and colleagues for their continued support and partnership - especially since the adoption of the landmark 2017 World Health Assembly Resolution on Sepsis.

We encourage our 122 member organizations, six Regional Sepsis Alliances (Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Caribbean, Eastern Mediterranean, and Latin America), and all strategic partners worldwide to circulate this special message from Dr. Tedros as part of their World Sepsis Day 2025 campaigns and engagements.

We are now live from Berlin with the 2025 WSD Central Press Conference:

Please use the chat function on YouTube to ask questions and interact with us. The event recording will be available immediately after the livestream has concluded.

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How many lives could be saved if Sepsis were recognized as the global health emergency it truly is?

Journalists and media representatives are warmly invited to join us in Berlin – or via livestream – for the Central Press Conference on World Sepsis Day 2025: “5 Facts × 5 Actions”.

Sepsis is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths worldwide, and every 3 seconds, someone dies from Sepsis. Yet it remains dramatically under-prioritized by governments and health systems.

This event will explore HOW millions of lives can be saved through prevention, early detection, and stronger policy action – and WHY urgent attention is needed now.

The press conference will feature the Special Video Address of Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, marking the 2025 World Sepsis Day.

It will bring together leading voices from global health, science, and advocacy, including:

• Prof. Dr. Detlev Ganten – Co-Founder, Virchow Foundation | Founding President, World Health Summit (Chair)

• Hon. Dr. Mariam Jashi – CEO, Global Sepsis Alliance | Former Chair of the Parliamentary Committee and Deputy Minister of Health of Georgia

• Prof. Dr. Andrew Ullman – UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health

• Prof. Dr. Konrad Reinhart – President, Sepsis Stiftung | Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina

• Prof. Mohsen Naghavi – Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), presenting new global estimates on Sepsis (Video Address)

• Prof. Dr. H.E. Stefan Kaufmann – Founding Director Emeritus, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology | Leopoldina Member

• Prof. Dr. Peter Suter – Co-Founder, Swiss Sepsis Program | Board Member, Sepsis Stiftung

The central highlight of the event will be addresses and testimonials from patients and families directly affected by this devastating medical emergency, including:

• Youssef Kdami – Father of a 2-year-old son with quadruple amputation after Sepsis (Video Address)

• Mariah McKimbrough – Sepsis Survivor | Executive Director, Sepsis Stiftung

• Kerstin Martensen – Founder, Jann-190.dd & Initiator of “Jülich arms itself against Sepsis”, in memory of her son

Their powerful stories will underscore the urgent need for greater awareness, stronger health system responses, and global collaboration to combat Sepsis.

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Registration & Attendance in Person

Please note that in-person attendance is by invitation only. If you are a member of the media and would like to attend, both in-person and remotely is possible, please contact us. To receive a reminder when the livestream on YouTube starts, please register using the form below.

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Co-Organizers of the Event

• Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA)

• Sepsis Stiftung

• Virchow Foundation

• UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health

• German Health Alliance (GHA)

• Team Stop Sepsis

• Swiss Sepsis Program (SSP)

Join high-level policymakers, global health leaders, sepsis advocates, and scholars at the parallel Side Event to the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) on “Sepsis and NCDs  – A Hidden Link in Global Health” on September 24, 2025.

Register Now

For in-person participation, please register by September 17, 2025.

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Co-Sponsor Organizations

• Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA)

•  Medical Women’s International Association (MWIA)

• UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health (UNITE)

• Sepsis Stiftung

• END SEPSIS – the Legacy of Rory Staunton

• Virchow Foundation

• German Health Alliance (GHA)

• Sepsis Alliance

• American Medical Women’s Association

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Why Sepsis and NCDs?

Sepsis is among the leading causes of mortality, disability, and healthcare expenditures worldwide, responsible for approximately 20% of all annual deaths. According to the latest estimates from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and the University of Oxford, in 2021, Sepsis, as an immediate or intermediate cause, was related to 21 million deaths, including 4 million deaths associated with or attributable to AMR. A reinvigorated Sepsis response is essential to accelerate progress towards health-related SDG 3 and 8, other Sustainable Development Goals.

15.8 million Sepsis cases, and 5.1 million Sepsis-related deaths annually arise from infections as complications/exacerbation of NCDs or injuries. Though the intersection of Sepsis with non-communicable diseases is often overlooked in global health dialogues. People living with NCDs – such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and chronic respiratory illnesses – are significantly more vulnerable to infections and, consequently, to Sepsis. At the same time, Sepsis Survivors often experience long-term sequelae, including the development or exacerbation of NCDs.

This bi-directional relationship underscores the need to integrate Sepsis prevention, early detection, and management into NCD strategies and broader UHC and health system strengthening efforts.

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Objectives of the Side Event

This side event will spotlight the overlooked Sepsis–NCD link and mobilize coordinated, cross-sectoral action by: 

1. Reaffirming the urgency of political leadership for scaling up the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis to prevent 12 million new cases of Sepsis and avert 2 million avoidable deaths.

2. Emphasizing the critical need for reinvigorated Sepsis responses at global, regional, and national levels to achieve health-related SDGs – including aspirations for UHC and NCDs.

3. Raising awareness of the clinical and policy links between Sepsis and NCDs within the context of Universal Health Coverage and SDG 3.

4. Promoting the recognition of the NCD-Sepsis nexus and the need for integration of Sepsis prevention and management in national NCD strategies and UHC packages.

5. Discussing strategies to catalyze political leadership, funding, and partnerships for the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis, including scalable models that link Sepsis and NCD care,  especially in LMICs.

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Target Audiences

• UN Member States and permanent missions

• WHO and other UN agencies

• Civil society organizations, patient groups, and health advocates

• Researchers and academics

• Development partners and philanthropic organizations

Join distinguished speakers from the WHO, Geneva-based global health partners, and leading Sepsis experts from Switzerland, Canada, Germany, Georgia, Greece, the United Kingdom, and the United States at the 2025 World Sepsis Day event on September 15.

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Event: “5 Facts × 5 Actions on Sepsis” — Accelerating the Global Response to Sepsis

Time: September 15, 2025, 14:00 - 16:00

Venue: InterContinental Genève, Chemin du Petit-Saconnex 7–9, 1209 Geneva, Switzerland
Registration is open till September 13, 2025, for in-person participation.

Meeting Format: Hybrid Event, Livestreamed to our YouTube Channel

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Co-organizers:

• Global Sepsis Alliance

• Virchow Foundation

• Health Diplomacy Alliance

• UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health

• European Sepsis Alliance

• Sepsis Stiftung

• Swiss Sepsis Program

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Register Now

Registration is open till September 13, 2025, for in-person participation.

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About the 2025 World Sepsis Day

Sepsis remains one of the leading causes of death, disability, and healthcare costs worldwide. Affecting 48.9 million people annually and responsible for nearly 1 in 5 global deaths, Sepsis is a largely invisible global health emergency. It disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, including 20 million children, 26 million women, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals.

According to the latest estimates from the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and the University of Oxford, in 2021 alone, Sepsis was linked to 21 million deaths (as an immediate and intermediate cause), including 4 million deaths associated with or attributable to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Since 2012, over 54,000 stakeholders from 170 countries -  including policy makers, national health authorities, healthcare providers, researchers, innovators, advocates, Sepsis survivors, families affected by this devastating medical emergency, and medical students – mark the World Sepsis Day (WSD) on September 13.

World Sepsis Day was initiated by the Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA) – the largest professional and advocacy network in the fight against Sepsis. WSD campaign events are held by GSA members and partners across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America. These campaigns include scientific conferences, training sessions, media outreach, and the launch of national, regional, or global initiatives on Sepsis literacy or advocacy.

World Sepsis Day campaigns were convened under the Patronage of Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, and the Federal Health Minister of Germany in 2023 and 2024.

2024 World Sepsis Day was marked by the historic launch of the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis at the German Parliament, the first multi-year strategy to prevent 12 million new Sepsis cases and save 2 million lives over the next 5 years.

The 2025 World Sepsis Day aims to further this momentum by emphasizing public awareness, political leadership, and strategic investments under the theme “5 Facts x 5 Actions” — to catalyze multisectoral engagement and prioritize Sepsis in global health planning.

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Objectives of the Event

The meeting aims to bring together multiple stakeholders engaged in the fight against Sepsis – pubic, private, civil society, and academic actors - to:

• Reaffirm the urgency of political commitment to the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis to prevent 12 million new cases from Sepsis and avert 2 million avoidable deaths.

• Emphasize the critical need for reinvigorated Sepsis responses at global, regional, and national levels to achieve health-related Sustainable Development Goals, including Universal Health Coverage aspirations.

• Raise awareness of the 2025 World Sepsis Day Theme “5 Facts x 5 Actions” highlighting key data and actionable steps for stronger positioning Sepsis on the Global Health Agenda.  

• Discuss strategies for catalyzing partnerships and funding streams (both traditional and innovative) to accelerate Sepsis science, research, and innovations.

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Target Audience

• Permanent Missions of the Member States to the United Nations in Geneva

• UN Agencies: WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNDP, UNHCR, IOM

• Bi- and multilateral development agencies

• Sepsis survivors and patient organizations

• Civil society organizations and global health advocates

• Researchers, academic institutions, and Think Tanks

• Philanthropic organizations and foundations

• Private sector leaders and health innovators

• Media representatives

How many lives could be saved if Sepsis were recognized as the global health emergency it truly is?

Journalists and media representatives are warmly invited to join us in Berlin – or via livestream – for the Central Press Conference on World Sepsis Day 2025: “5 Facts × 5 Actions”.

Sepsis is responsible for 1 in 5 deaths worldwide, and every 3 seconds, someone dies from Sepsis. Yet it remains dramatically under-prioritized by governments and health systems.

This event will explore HOW millions of lives can be saved through prevention, early detection, and stronger policy action – and WHY urgent attention is needed now.

The press conference will feature the Special Video Address of Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, marking the 2025 World Sepsis Day.

It will bring together leading voices from global health, science, and advocacy, including:

• Prof. Dr. Detlev Ganten – Co-Founder, Virchow Foundation | Founding President, World Health Summit (Chair)

• Hon. Dr. Mariam Jashi – CEO, Global Sepsis Alliance | Former Chair of the Parliamentary Committee and Deputy Minister of Health of Georgia

• Prof. Dr. Andrew Ullman – UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health

• Prof. Dr. Konrad Reinhart – President, Sepsis Stiftung | Member of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina

• Prof. Mohsen Naghavi – Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), presenting new global estimates on Sepsis (Video Address)

• Prof. Dr. H.E. Stefan Kaufmann – Founding Director Emeritus, Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology | Leopoldina Member

• Prof. Dr. Peter Suter – Co-Founder, Swiss Sepsis Program | Board Member, Sepsis Stiftung

The central highlight of the event will be addresses and testimonials from patients and families directly affected by this devastating medical emergency, including:

• Youssef Kdami – Father of a 2-year-old son with quadruple amputation after Sepsis (Video Address)

• Mariah McKimbrough – Sepsis Survivor | Executive Director, Sepsis Stiftung

• Kerstin Martensen – Founder, Jann-190.dd & Initiator of “Jülich arms itself against Sepsis”, in memory of her son

Their powerful stories will underscore the urgent need for greater awareness, stronger health system responses, and global collaboration to combat Sepsis.

---

Registration & Attendance in Person

Please note that in-person attendance is by invitation only. If you are a member of the media and would like to attend, both in-person and remotely is possible, please contact us. To receive a reminder when the livestream on YouTube starts, please register using the form below.

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Co-Organizers of the Event

• Global Sepsis Alliance (GSA)

• Sepsis Stiftung

• Virchow Foundation

• UNITE Parliamentarians Network for Global Health

• German Health Alliance (GHA)

• Team Stop Sepsis

• Swiss Sepsis Program (SSP)