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.