There is a critical need to prevent , diagnose and treat sepsis promptly to save lives
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OCTOBER , 2023 | THE HEALTH
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SEPSIS ALERT
BY ASSOC PROF DR TAN TOH LEONG
AND DR NIZAM ISHAK
WORLD Sepsis Day is an annual event recognised by the World Health Organisation on Sept 13 to raise awareness about sepsis . It ’ s a day for people worldwide to unite in the fight against sepsis . Sepsis is a life-threatening condition when the body ’ s response to an infection causes the immune system to damage tissues and organs .
Sepsis is a potentially deadly condition that can be treated and prevented . Depending on the country and education , sepsis is only known to seven to 50 per cent of the population . This lack of knowledge and awareness makes sepsis the number one preventable cause of death worldwide .
World Sepsis Day was initiated by the Global Sepsis Alliance in 2012 . It serves as a reminder of the critical need to prevent , diagnose , and treat sepsis promptly to save lives . There are events for medical professionals and public events , such as open houses in hospitals and health facilities . This also includes online events such as the World Sepsis Congress and social media campaigns .
The aim of World Sepsis Day is to educate people about sepsis , its symptoms , risk factors , and the importance of early detection and treatment . This later can promote measures to prevent sepsis , improve healthcare practices , and reduce sepsis-related deaths .
A PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN
Some measures include hygiene , cleanliness and vaccination . At the end of the day the campaign encourages governments , healthcare providers and organisations to take action in addressing sepsis as a public health concern . World Sepsis Day also emphasises providing support and resources for sepsis survivors and their families .
The World Sepsis Day slogan is Stop Sepsis , Save Lives . The theme mainly focuses on delving into educating
World Sepsis Day : United in fighting sepsis
people about this life-threatening condition .
On Sept 12 , 2023 , the Global Sepsis Alliance and the Sepsis Stiftung joined forces to host a unique event celebrating the enactment of the WHO Sepsis resolution on the international level at Berlin , Germany . During this event , the Berlin Declaration on Sepsis was announced , and the organiser highlighted the enforcement of the World Health Assembly Resolution and
There is a critical need to prevent , diagnose and treat sepsis promptly to save lives
Reinvigorated Global Action on Sepsis from May 2017 also known as WHA70.7 .
In 2017 , the WHA70.7 adopted a resolution on sepsis following a proposal drafted by the Global Sepsis Alliance and supported by several member states and the Malaysian Sepsis Alliance .
BERLIN DECLARATION ON SEPSIS
The WHA70.7 recognised sepsis as a global threat and called all United
Assoc Prof Dr Tan Toh Leong is Senior Lecturer and Emergency Medical Consultant , UKM Medical Center , Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia ( UKM ) and President & Founder of Malaysian Sepsis Alliance ( MySepsis ), while Dr Nizam Ishak is Deputy Director , Sibu Hospital , Sarawak and Committee Member of MySepsis .
Nations member states to develop and implement national action plans to improve sepsis prevention , diagnosis and treatment . However , progress in implementing international plans has been slow .
Therefore , the Berlin Declaration on Sepsis calls for its urgent enforcement at the international level . Global reinvigorated actions for sepsis , highlighting the need for urgent advances in programmatic implementation , strengthening health systems , and health literacy interventions are crucial .
The impact of innovations in the prevention , diagnosis , and treatment of infections and sepsis is also needed . Other than WHA70.7 , there is a 2030 World Sepsis Declaration that aims to decrease the global incidence of sepsis through strategies to prevent infection .
The 2030 World Sepsis Declaration is always being discussed and highlighted during World Sepsis Day . It is the future vision in the campaign to reduce the sepsis burden .
On World Sepsis Day it is also a good reminder that this illness can be prevented . Celebrating World Sepsis Day is a gentle reminder that sepsis requires a multi-agency , global response to address the burden of the huge numbers of episodes and deaths from sepsis .
Our small step can encourage the movement to support proper management and prevent sepsis . Let ’ s together stop sepsis and save lives . - The Health