Supporting Those Who Wish to Form Patient Groups

Patient groups are a critical aspect of the fight against meningitis across the globe. The challenges for patient groups are not only getting established, but creating a sustainable effective organization on a long term basis. Most patient groups are focused on their own country but being part of CoMO helps give access to other patient groups who, even if they are in a different country, will have faced or be facing, very similar challenges.

Sharing learning, expertise, knowledge and resources enables a patient group to establish itself more quickly, enter new areas of activity more cost effectively and ultimately reach out to more people in the fight against meningitis in all its forms.

If you are thinking about forming a meningitis patient group then CoMO can offer guidance and can put you in touch with an established member.

Central to the ethos of CoMO is members helping each other and initiatives have been put in place to facilitate this including the establishment of a mentoring scheme called ‘buddying’.

Mentoring can  help all members contribute to the achievement of CoMO vision and mission by encouraging participation in CoMO wide, multiple member activities such as World Meningitis Day, and by helping support effective communication amongst members.

CoMO is also developing resources and toolkits which will help newly formed and forming groups.