Europe/Africa Region   

With more than 100 countries, the Europe/Africa Region is the Confederation of Meningitis Organisation's (CoMO's) largest Region covering all of Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

In this region, CoMO has members in Czech Republic, France, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom as well as an individual Associate Member in Denmark.

More information on the member organisations in the Europe/Africa region is available below.

Czech Republic   

NAHLAS

Obcanské sdružení Nahlas is a non-governmental non-profit organization established in the Czech Republic in order to raise awareness about invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), its treatment, and prevention. The major goal of the organization was to advocate for free pneumococcal vaccine to all young children which has now been finally approved by the Czech government. The founders´ son survived pneumococcal meningitis mainly due to the fact that his parents were aware of the symptoms and sought medical help quickly. NAHLAS works as a centre for information exchange among those who survived IPD as well as anyone who may need them. The organization also provides counseling services for families who lost a child due to IPD or who must cope with after effects such as deafness, movement disability, etc.

Visit the NAHLAS website for more information about this member organisation.

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France   

Meningites France - Association Audrey

Association Audrey is a parent-run organisation founded by parents of a child who died of meningitis. The organisation's main goal is to inform and educate the public about meningitis and possible prevention of the disease. The Association works on providing support to families of children who died from meningitis.

Visit one of the Association Audrey website's (http://www.asso-audrey.org/ or http://www.associationaudrey.fr/) for more information about this member organisation.

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Germany   

Gemeinsam gegen Meningokokken

Due to the nature of the patients our focus is on bacterial meningitis. Since the disease is more or less unknown to the German public, the organization will concentrate on “education”. Education refers here to the general public, as well as professionals in the medical business. This could happen via brochures, events, campaigns, etc.

Apart from that the group will be a big “family”, where everybody whose life has been affected by meningitis is welcome and helped (e.g.: how to cope with the after-effects as a family, where can I get professional help). What the families really need is someone to listen and someone to give them a helping hand.

Visit the Gemeinsam gegen Meningokokken website for more information about this member organisation.

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Ghana   

Real Life Foundation 

Real Life Foundation, (RELIF) is a registered non profit making and a non governmental organization working with the aim of creating public awareness on Meningitis, support people especially children suffering from meningitis and builds the capacity of various individuals.

Real Life Foundation (RELIF) was formed in 2009 by a group of concerned citizens who were touched by the plight of the underserved and vulnerable people in the communities. RELIF has been registered under Limited Guarantee with the registration number G-27, 357and it is also recognize by the Department of Social Welfare to operate as a Non Government Organization, (NGO).

RELIF’s main goals are:

  • Awareness creation on health issues especially Meningitis
  • Capacity building for individuals, groups, schools and organizations
  • Financial support for vulnerable individual including Meningitis patients

RELIF is managed by a five (5) member Board of Directors made up of Medical Practitioners, Social Workers and Lawyers.

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Ireland  

Meningitis Trust Ireland

The overarching aim of the Meningitis Trust in Ireland is to help save lives and reduce the risk of after-effects by raising awareness of the signs and symptoms of this devastating disease with health professionals and the general public.

They are the only charity to offer a range of free professional services and community based support for people affected by meningitis. Because their staff are professionally qualified nurses and counselors, the meningitis Trust can provide a level of reassurance, 24 hours, day or night. They can offer comfort in what can be a devastating and traumatic time and most importantly they stay connected to people to help them rebuild their lives after the impact of meningitis.

Visit the Meningitis Trust Ireland website for more information about this member organisation.

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Italy   

MOIGE – Movimento Italiano Genitori

Moige is a parent organisation that focuses on the promotion and protection of the rights of parents and children in the community.

Visit the Moige website for more information about this member organisation.

 

National Committee Against Meningitis

The National Committee Against Meningitis is the first advocacy group in Italy focused only on meningitis. Established in 2011 by the parents of two children who passed away from meningococcal disease, the National Committee is an information and support group to those who have been directly or indirectly affected by meningitis.

The National Committee aims to fight meningitis across Italy by providinginformation about the signs, symptoms and risks of meningitis as well as information about how to prevent this devestating disease.  

Visit the National Committee Against Meningitis website for more information about this member organisation.

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Netherlands   

Netherlandse Meningtiis Stichting

The Netherlandse Meningitis Stichting (NMS) is an organisation run by volunteers to support families who have experienced meningitis, encefalitis and septicemia.

The NMS are dedicated to sharing information and experiences via their website, by distributing brochures and delivering presentations to medical professionals and the general public to raise awareness of these diseases. They also offer a 24 hour telephone service to support those in an emergency situation.

By giving small grants to science graduates, the NMS supports research into meningitis prevention, diagnosis, treatment and the after effects of the disease.

Visit the Netherlandse Meningitis Stichting website for more information about this member organisation.

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Poland   

Fundacja Aby zyc (Foundation to live)

Foundation Aby zyc was established in 2007 to support ways to prevent, diagnose and treat life threatening infections diseases that affect the nervous system.

In particular the Foundation pays special attention to infections of the brain that may be caused by pathogenic bacteria (disease causing bacteria) such as meningococcus, pneumococcus and viruses such as encephalitis and those in the group Herpes.

The Foundation organises nationwide educational programs and campaigns, and provides funding for vaccines to those who cannot afford them. In Poland these vaccinations are recommended but not mandatory and are therefore can be quite expensive.

Visit the Fundacja Aby zyc website for more information about this member organisation.

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South Africa        

Meningitis Association of South Africa

The Meningitis Association of South Africa strive to raise funds to promote education and research to prevent death and disability from meningitis and other infections of the central nervous system.

Through education, the Meningitis Association of South Africa will:

  • Provide support and education to patients and families affected by meningitis.
  • Stive to increase public awareness of meningitis.
  • Promote better understanding of the disease among healthcare professionals.

Through research,  the Meningitis Association of South Africa will:

  • Provide funds to improve diagnosis, treatment and prevention of meningitis.

Visit the Meningitis Association of South Africa website for more information about this member organisation.

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Spain    

Fundación Irene Megias Contra la Meningitis

Our Foundation´s mission is to promote education and awareness of the Spanish society, with the aim to reduce both death and disability rates, and to give support to the people and families affected. On top of that, we drive a part of our resources to epidemiology and clinic research, in order to prevent and get better treatments for those illnesses.

Visit the Fundation Irene Megias website for more information about this member organisation.

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Sweden

Barnplantorna

Barnplantorna is an organisation in Sweden for children with Cochlear Implant (CI) and hearing aids. Our aim is to increase knowledge about CI and hearing aids for children and improve their conditions. We endorse early hearing tests and offer information materials and meeting places to parents and professionals in child care and education. Barnplantorna is a member of EURO-CIU (The European Association of Cochlear Implant Users).

Individuals who survive Pneumococcal Meningitis can often suffer hearing loss and in 2007 Barnplantorna successfully lobbied for the Pneumococcal Disease vaccine to be included on the child vaccine schedule in Sweden.

Visit the Barnplantorna website for more information about this member organisation.

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United Kingdom 

Meningitis Research Foundation

Meningitis Research Foundation's vision is a world free from meningitis and septicaemia. The charity funds research to prevent meningitis and septicaemia, and to improve survival rates and outcomes. The Foundation has the largest research funding commitment of any meningitis charity.

The charity promotes education and awareness among the public health professionals to reduce death and disability, and has won a number of awards for this work.

Meningitis Research Foundation gives support to people affected through its accredited 24 hour helpline and specialist staff.

Visit the Meningitis Research Foundation website for more information about this member organisation.

  

Meningitis UK

Meningitis UK has a single focus - to fund lifesaving research into finding a vaccine to eradicate meningitis.

Sadly, the disease is often incredibly difficult to detect as the symptoms can be hard to distinguish from everyday ailments such as the common cold or flu, plus there are occasions when people show no or very few symptoms. For these reasons, we believe that the only way to eradicate the disease completely is through the development of a preventative vaccine.

Our 'Search 4 a Vaccine Campaign' launched in April 2007, aims to raise £7 million over the next seven years to help fund cutting-edge research to develop a vaccine against Meningitis B - the one type of meningitis in the UK for which there is currently no vaccine and which causes almost 90% of all cases.

Visit the Meningitis UK website for more information about this member organisation.

 

Meningitis Trust

The Meningitis Trust’s Vision is for all communities to be aware of the threat and impact of meningitis and for anyone affected to have access to quality care and support for as long as they need it.

Our Mission is to reduce the devastating impact of meningitis by:

  • raising awareness of the disease with health professionals and the general public – prompt action can save a life or reduce the likelihood of after-effects
  • providing the professional services and support to everyone affected for as long as they need it – helping people to rebuild their lives 
  • empowering other people and organisations by working together - improving aftercare for people affected by meningitis in the UK and beyond 
  • continuing to be the leading authority on the after-effects and aftercare of meningitis - fighting for those who need support for life

In the UK alone, there are over 500,000 people who have had meningitis. Over the years, thousands of families have had to face a future without a loved one and 1 in 4 adults in the UK today know of someone who has had meningitis. Those who have survived are left coping with debilitating after effects including deafness, blindness, limb loss, learning difficulties, memory issues and behavioural problems – any of which can lead to enforced lifestyle changes and relationship issues. The impact is life-changing for those directly affected and their family and friends - whatever outcome the disease leaves behind. The Meningitis Trust is here to support all those affected for life.

Visit the Meningitis Trust website for more information about this member organisation.

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