Today we’re wearing pink to mark World Sepsis Day, an opportunity to raise awareness about sepsis globally. Sepsis, or severe infection, is one of the most common fatal diseases worldwide. An estimated 50 people die from sepsis every hour globally.
Sepsis is a leading cause of maternal and neonatal deaths and accounts for 60-80% of lost lives per year in childhood in low- and middle-income countries. It kills more than 6 million neonates and children yearly and is responsible for more than 100,000 cases of maternal death.
Sepsis arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. As sepsis can develop rapidly, it is vital that there is quick identification so that treatment is provided and long-term damage or death is prevented. Yet, sepsis is often under-recognised and poorly understood, leaving it far too late for effective treatment.
Here at Soapbox, we’re working to reduce infections including sepsis in mothers and newborns in low-and middle-income countries. We research and support simple strategies and practices such as hand-hygiene and ensuring a clean birth environment. These solutions mean mothers and newborns receive clean, safe care at the time of birth, preventing infections and saving lives. Solutions like these may seem obvious, but without them, hundreds of mothers and babies won’t survive.
We must work together to stop sepsis. We encourage all interested in finding out more about the neglected issue of sepsis to visit the World Sepsis Day website and get involved with raising awareness to stop this global killer.