Launch of the WHO Defeating Meningitis Roadmap

Meningitis is fatal and debilitating, striking fast with serious health, economic and social consequences, including life-long disabilities, and affecting people of all ages in all countries. Building on the successes of recent decades (in the fight against meningitis), the moment has arrived for an ambitious, inclusive road map to defeat meningitis as a public health threat – for the first time ever, 194 countries have collectively resolved to end the intense suffering from a disease that is vaccine-preventable.

WHO, in collaboration with partners and experts involved in meningitis prevention and control, has developed the first global roadmap that sets forth a vision and strategy to defeat meningitis by 2030. Professor Robert Heyderman (Head, Research Department of Infection, UCL Division of Infection & Immunity), Professor Nora Groce (Centre Director, UCL International Disability Research Centre), and Dr Brenda Kwambana (Research Associate, NIHR Mucosal Pathogens Research Unit) have worked on and contributed to the roadmap.

This roadmap includes three visionary goals to:

1. eliminate epidemics of bacterial meningitis
2. reduce cases of vaccine-preventable bacterial meningitis by 50% and deaths by 70%
3. reduce disability and improve quality of life after meningitis of any cause.

To find out more, join the launch of 'Defeating Meningitis by 2030: A Global Road Map' on Tuesday 28 September 2021.

Further information

• WHO Defeating meningitis by 2030: a global road map