Burkina Faso’s representative highlighted that meningitis goes beyond the issue of vaccination and called meningitis a “real issue of great concern”. They said that in Africa there is a saying: “you can only count the number of children that you have once a meningitis epidemic has passed” and called for concerted effort in addressing meningitis.
Sudan’s representative also support the plan, saying: “We need to mainstream the meningitis programme.”
Rob Dawson, Director of Communications, Advocacy and Support at Meningitis Research Foundation, said: “We’ve been working with our partners to drive the call for a global plan to defeat meningitis that will benefit families and individuals in every country. We are delighted that the World Health Assembly will now discuss what can be done to prevent meningitis, ensure timely treatment, improve surveillance, and offer better support and aftercare to those affected.”
Tonga said they stood together with Burkina Faso on meningitis and agree that we need to strengthen initiatives to deal it.
The draft resolution on Meningitis Prevention and Control, which will go to the World Health Assembly, can be seen here: EB146(6)