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Governments call for funding to defeat meningitis

Over 40 governments contributed to discussions on meningitis at the 78th World Health Assembly

June 2024

At the end of May, global health leaders came together in Geneva for the World Health Assembly. Lasting over a week, this is an annual opportunity for discussion, progress updates and priority-setting for some of the most important issues in global health. 

This year, meningitis was on the agenda. As we approach the mid-point of the World Health Organization’s Global Road Map to Defeat Meningitis by 2030 – first approved at the World Health Assembly in 2020 – this was an important moment for assessing progress on our collective goal to defeat meningitis by the end of the decade.  

Almost 40 governments, including the UK, took part in the discussion by making statements about their national progress, regional commitments, and what more they feel needs to be done to tackle meningitis.

World Health Organization - Copyright Pierre Albouy

© World Health Organization/Pierre Albouy 

Access to vaccines was a key issue raised by multiple countries. Sudan, on behalf of countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region, highlighted the absence of meningitis vaccines across the region in comparison to other communicable diseases like influenza. A number of countries celebrated the Men5 vaccine, whose introduction WHO supported in Nigeria and Niger last year and encouraged wider rollout to save more lives.  

“All countries of our region, 22 countries or territories, have introduced vaccinations against Type B Influenza and 17 have introduced other vaccinations, but only 6 against meningitis. We are not managing to tackle the dramatic effects of this disease. It is time that we truly fight against meningitis and make this a priority in our region.” Sudan on behalf of the EMRO region

Unsurprisingly, the stark need for funding also emerged as a key theme. Since the start of the year, we have seen significant challenges across the global health funding landscape, so several countries took the opportunity to bring this issue to the global stage. Governments underlined the need for resourcing to support the implementation of the WHO’s Global Road Map globally; from advocacy work to care and support to ensuring access to vaccines. The WHO published its investment case for defeating meningitis in April 2024, but funding is still yet to be secured, leaving progress to defeat meningitis lagging. 

“Namibia highlights the need for strengthened, increased domestic financing to address communicable diseases given the changing donor funding landscape” Namibia

Woman holding up sign saying Namibia in a large meeting. WHA Namibia © World Health Organization/Pierre Albouy
© World Health Organization/Pierre Albouy 

“The African region would like to… encourage the strengthening of sustainable financing mechanisms in order to support the effective implementation of our interventions” Burkina Faso on behalf of the AFRO region

To conclude the session, Assistant Director General of the WHO Dr Bruce Aylward stated “We have made remarkable progress on this, and this is one disease which truly can be defeated by 2030”.  

We agree; with the caveat that long-term and sustainable funding is essential for all aspects of the Road Map. This will go a long way in supporting Member States to follow through on the commitments they made when they approved the Road Map back in 2020.  

Find out more about race to defeat meningitis through our Race to 2030 resources.