Dr. Jashi Calls for Prioritizing Sepsis in Reproductive Health Research

Geneva, April 29–30 – Dr. Mariam Jashi, CEO of the Global Sepsis Alliance, participated in the 38th Meeting of the Policy and Coordination Committee (PCC) of the UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), held at WHO Headquarters in Geneva.

Dr. Bruce Aylward, Assistant Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), and Sir Jeremy Farrar, WHO Chief Scientist, delivered special remarks to the Committee. PCC adopted the report from its 37th session and approved recommendations for the future work of the Committee. The meeting recommended that HRP continues to work on sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially in connection with climate change and pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response, through close collaboration among all co-sponsors. The Committee also discussed how science and evidence generated by HRP can best continue to effectively inform policy and counteract anti-rights movements, disinformation, and misinformation.

On April 29, Dr. Jashi addressed member states, co-sponsors, and civil society partners on behalf of the Global Sepsis Alliance, which was invited as an Observer to the PCC. She underscored the urgent need to prioritize sepsis within the human reproductive health agenda. Sepsis affects 26 million women annually, including 5.7 million pregnant women, and impacts more than 20 million children under five, among them 1.3 million newborns. Given this staggering burden, she urged the Committee to integrate sepsis as a core priority in all policy deliberations and recommendations.

Dr. Jashi also spotlighted the 2030 Global Agenda for Sepsis, calling on UN Member States to ensure the prioritization of sepsis—the cause of 1 in every 5 deaths worldwide—in all political and health policy discussions and decision-making processes.

The Global Sepsis Alliance and its leadership will continue to use every advocacy platform to elevate the position of sepsis within the global health dialogue and architecture.