The World Health Organization (WHO) has created a global plan to transform the way we prevent, diagnose and treat meningitis. This plan also sets out to improve disease monitoring, communication, aftercare and support.
If achieved, the Global Road Map to Defeat Meningitis by 2030 could save the lives of up to 200,000 people each year and eliminate bacterial meningitis epidemics.
The Road Map has three visionary goals:
- End bacterial meningitis epidemics,
- Reduce cases of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis by 50%, and deaths by 70%,
- Reduce disability and improve quality of life after meningitis.
WHO developed the Road Map with input from people affected by meningitis, scientists, health experts, governments and civil society organisations like us. In 2020, WHO presented the Road Map at the World Health Assembly, where Member States voted to support it by passing a resolution (WHA73.9). This means that each country endorses the goals of the Road Map and commits to taking the actions set out within it.
The plan focusses on the main causes of bacterial meningitis (meningococcus, pneumococcus, Haemophilus influenzae and group B streptococcus). Bacterial meningitis is the deadliest form of meningitis, with the World Health Organization estimating that around 1 in 6 people who get it will die.
Key milestones so far:
2019: Road Map development and stakeholder consultation
Blog: Experts from around the world meet to agree the way forward to defeat meningitis)
2020: Approval at the World Health Assembly
Blog: Green light for first-ever global plan to defeat meningitis
2021: Publication of the Global Road Map
2022: Publication of a framework for the implementation of the Road Map in the WHO African Region
2024: First WHO high level meeting to defeat meningitis and publication of Investing to defeat meningitis and beyond
Blog: The first high-level meeting to defeat meningitis – celebrating a major milestone
Meningitis Research Foundation Ambassador Mike Davies at the world’s first high level meeting to defeat meningitis. Learn more about the event.