The World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners have launched the first ever global strategy to defeat meningitis by 2030.

Through the implementation of the strategy 200,000 lives will be saved and disabilities caused by the disease will be reduced.

The focus of the strategy is on prevention of infections and improving care and diagnosis for those affected.

Speaking at the launch of the strategy, WHO director general Tedros Adhamon Ghebreyesus said when meningitis occurs it can be deadly and unbearable, it strikes quickly and has serious health, economic and social consequences and causes devastating outbreaks.

He said time is now to tackle meningitis globally once and for all by urgently expanding access to existing tools like vaccines, spearheading new research and innovation to prevent, detecting and treating the various causes of the disease, and improving rehabilitation for those affected.”

Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, said during her speech that More than half a billion Africans are at risk of seasonal meningitis outbreaks but the disease has been off the radar for too long,” said

Additionally, Moeti said the shift away from firefighting outbreaks to strategic response can’t come soon enough. This roadmap will help protect the health and lives of hundreds of thousands of families who every year fear this disease.

Meningitis is a dangerous inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, predominantly caused by infection with bacteria and viruses.