New Zealand launch The Meningitis Foundation

World Meningitis Day Marks the Establishment of The Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand

Sunday 24 April 2011 is the third annual World Meningitis Day. Meningitis organisations from across the globe come together to raise awareness about the ominous threat of contracting meningitis and septicemia and the devastating effects of these deadly diseases, to encourage prevention of some strains through vaccination.

In support of World Meningitis Day 2011, a group of passionate New Zealanders, committed to raising awareness of meningitis, have come together to establish and launch The Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand.

The Meningitis Foundation will provide an opportunity for families affected by meningitis and septicemia to connect with each other and to share their stories to help others. These personal accounts and experiences will provide a vehicle for raising community awareness about meningitis and septicemia.

“Together, we aim to inform people about the steps they can take to protect themselves and their loved ones,” said Ms Tania Wolfgramm, a meningococcal septicemia survivor, advocate for disease awareness and a founding member of the Meningitis Foundation.

“As a survivor, I can tell you that meningitis is one of the most horrific diseases, not just for those affected but also for their families. As individuals, parents and healthcare providers, we must be vigilant. Meningitis is a difficult disease to identify in the early stages, the speed of disease progression is rapid and the associated pain and trauma cannot be described. We must never be complacent,” added Tania. Meningitis and septicemia are deadly diseases that impact the lives of hundreds of thousands of families throughout the world.

Meningitis and septicemia can often result in tragic death, deafness, loss of limbs, brain damage or other neurological disabilities. Sadly, those most affected often include infants, who have just begun to experience life and all that it has to offer, as well as adolescents and young adults who are busy enjoying time with friends and family and learning in school.

Bacterial meningitis, the most severe type of meningitis, is most commonly caused by Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), Streptococcus pneumoniae (or pneumococcus) and Neisseria meningitidis (or meningococcus). These bacterial infections are also known as pneumococcal disease and meningococcal disease. Many people do not realize that some forms of these diseases are preventable through vaccination.

An epidemic of meningococcal disease began in New Zealand in 1991, and since then a total of 265 deaths have been recorded, with hundreds more suffering severely debilitating effects. In 2009 there were 132 notified cases of meningococcal disease with most of these being under five years old.

The New Zealand Ministry of Health currently provides vaccination programmes for Hib and pneumococcal disease; endeavouring to protect our children and young people. A vaccine for the most common strains of meningococcal disease is available free to high-risk populations and to others who are able to pay for it.

The next big step is to improve New Zealand’s record for protecting our children and to drive up our vaccination rates. “Every eligible child should have access to these vaccines,” said Tania. “One child lost or damaged is one too many, and with accurate information, education and when possible, vaccination, we can reduce the number of meningitis cases that we currently see in New Zealand”.

For more information about The Meningitis Foundation Aotearoa New Zealand, please contact Paul Gilberd on 021 424 079, Andrea Brady on 021 977 688, or by email using info@meningitis.org.nz.