Mark Pritchard has pledged his support to new charity Meningitis Now, after meeting families left devastated by the disease.
Mr Pritchard met families and young people directly affected by meningitis at an event in Westminster last week, which brought together MPs from all parties to understand the impact of meningitis in the UK.
The event was hosted by Meningitis Now, the UK’s biggest meningitis charity, recently created from the merger of Meningitis Trust and Meningitis UK, the founders of the meningitis movement in the 1980s.
Mark Pritchard said: “After meeting families and hearing from young people directly affected by meningitis, I was keen to make a commitment to do everything I can to support them.
“Meningitis is unpredictable and is still the disease feared most by parents. Whilst vaccines have made a huge impact on cases, I was shocked to hear that it still affects thousands of people every year. Two children die every week in the UK and even adults are affected, that’s why I’m supporting Meningitis Now to help save lives and rebuild futures.”
There are an estimated 3,400 cases of bacterial meningitis and septicaemia each year in the UK. One in ten people who get bacterial meningitis will die and one in three will be left with life-changing after-effects such as brain damage or limb loss.
The government is currently considering bringing in a new vaccine to protect babies against meningitis B, which accounts for 50% of cases.
Meningitis Now is campaigning to bring in the meningitis B vaccine and delivered a 20,000 signature petition to Downing Street on Wednesday 23rd October. Chief Executive of Meningitis Now, Sue Davie said: “I want to thank Mark Pritchard MP for his support and for taking time out to listen to the real life experiences of families affected by meningitis.
“With his help we can make a difference to people in the UK – people who are at risk from meningitis and those whose lives have already been changed forever because of it.”