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:
- To tackle the lack of awareness about sepsis, we conducted a survey of 1,000 Belgians in collaboration with iVox. The results revealed alarming knowledge gaps, underscoring the urgent need for education and action.
- Then, we crafted and distributed a press release highlighting the survey findings and calling for a national plan to combat sepsis.
- To ensure the message resonated widely, we pitched the story to key national and regional media outlets, securing significant media coverage.
Results:
- The campaign was a remarkable success: 51 articles were published in print, online, on radio and on television, reaching a total of 19 million people.
- This widespread coverage 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.
