Sepsibel - How to urge a national action plan
Sparking national conversations about sepsis, a largely unknown yet highly dangerous condition
Sepsis, often referred to as the “silent killer", is a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s extreme reaction to an infection. Despite its severity, awareness of sepsis in Belgium remains alarmingly low, as many people do not recognise the symptoms or understand the risks. Thousands of Belgians contract sepsis every year, but early detection and timely treatment could save countless lives. With this in mind, we have launched a campaign together with Sepsibel to put the spotlight on this critical public health issue.
Our approach:
- We pitched Ilse Mafait’s story and book to a broad range of media, ensuring a compelling narrative that resonated with audiences.
- We conducted a survey with iVox to assess public knowledge about sepsis, uncovering significant awareness gaps and reinforcing the need for urgent action.
- We executed a strategic PR campaign around the survey results, amplifying the message through targeted media outreach.
- To ensure the message resonated widely, we pitched both Ilse Mafait’s story and the survey findings book to key national and regional media outlets, securing significant media coverage.
Results:
The campaign was a remarkable success:
- The story and the book secured extensive media coverage with 51 articles published across print, online, radio, and TV, reaching a total of over 19 million people.
- The survey findings generated widespread media interest with 40 articles published across different media, with a total audience of over 6,2 million people.
In the end, the campaign sparked national conversations about sepsis, prompting the Minister of Social Affairs and Public Health to request a report and initiate work on a national action plan.
