Meningitis Awareness Week 2021

• Elimination of bacterial meningitis epidemics;
• Reduction of cases of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis by 50% and deaths by 70%;
• Reduction of disability and improvement of quality of life after meningitis due to any cause.

• Prevention and epidemic control focused on the development of new affordable vaccines, achievement of high immunization coverage, improvement of prevention strategies and response to epidemics;
• Diagnosis and treatment, focused on speedy confirmation of meningitis and optimal management;
• Disease surveillance to guide meningitis prevention and control;
• Care and support of those affected by meningitis, focusing on early recognition and improved access care and support for after-effects from meningitis, and
• Advocacy and engagement, to ensure high awareness of meningitis, consideration into countries plans, and increase the right to prevention, care and after-care services.

The Global Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis was endorsed at the Seventy-third World Health Assembly. It will be officially launched on September 28th 2021, and health leaders from all around the world will be asked to take action.

Click here to make sure they hear your voice.

You can submit any type of message of support! You could simply type a message into your phone and screenshot it so that it becomes a picture, but we encourage you to use your creativity to have an even bigger impact.

You could:

• Draw a picture of what a world free from meningitis might look like
• Upload a photo of somebody that you love who was impacted by meningitis
• Record a voice note on your phone telling your story 
• Film a video of yourself celebrating a world free from meningitis
• Make a sign saying 'I support the Roadmap' and snap a selfie

These are just a few ideas, but you are free to express your support however you choose. Your message, and accompanying material, will be included in this gallery. The gallery will be presented to global health leaders at the September 28th launch of the Global Roadmap to Defeat Meningitis.

Be part of this historic moment. Add your message of support today.

Meningitis does not recognise national borders. It is a global disease, with global impact. As the COVID-19 pandemic has proven, countries need to work together in order to defeat diseases. 

Until now, meningitis and neonatal sepsis have been rarely listed as health priorities in major global health strategies and frameworks. As a result, progress towards defeating meningitis has been slow. According to one estimate, between 1990 and 2017, meningitis deaths in children under 5 fell by just 53% compared to 87% for measles, 93% for tetanus and 70% for diarrhoea.

Our team at Meningitis Research Foundation have built the Meningitis Progress Tracker, with the support of the Tableau Foundation. For the first time, this tool brings together data from diverse sources on meningitis cases and deaths, prevention, surveillance, treatment and impact on quality of life all in one place, aligned with the five pillars of the WHO Defeating Meningitis by 2030 global roadmap.