CoMO President calls on the world to support World Meningitis Day

Organisations in twenty countries from all corners of the world will call on the global community to come together on Sunday 24 April 2011 to participate in World Meningitis Day.

These organisations are members of the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO). Their aim is to promote the importance of vaccinations against meningitis and to raise public awareness of both meningitis and septicaemia worldwide.

Meningitis is a serious, often fatal infection causing inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord (meninges). Viral meningitis is the most common form, but bacterial meningitis is the most serious. It can result in brain damage, deafness and death, even if treated early. Meningitis can be associated with blood poisoning (septicaemia) which causes loss of limbs.

“Despite the availability of proven vaccines, meningitis and septicaemia unnecessarily kill and main thousands of people around the world every year,   for survivors and their families the effects can be devastating.  In today’s world this is totally unacceptable," said CoMO President Bruce Langoulant.

"It is vital that everyone has access to available vaccines, information on the signs and symptoms of the disease and for those who have been affected that they and their families receive quality care and support,” said Bruce.

CoMO is a rapidly expanding organisation whose members are predominately parent led organisations.  Members are committed to the elimination of meningitis and septicaemia.  They also strive to provide sustainable, identifiable and influential sources of information and support services for those people affected by meningitis in their respective regions.  Members host fundraising events, sponsor research projects and much more.

Mr Langoulant asks that before World Meningitis Day on 24 April, on the day and during 2011, people around the world visit the CoMO website at www.comoonline.org and 'join hands' in our online global community in support of those touched by the disease and to raise awareness of meningitis and septicaemia.

Media contact: 
Linda Gibbs
Secretariat, Confederation of Meningitis Organisations, Inc. (CoMO)
Email: lindag@ichr.uwa.edu.au
Phone: +61 8 9489 7791