Meningitis Trust Active In Distressing Times

Meningitis Trust Active In Distressing Times

Four deaths within the last three weeks have caused the National Meningitis Trust of NZ to redouble its efforts to raise awareness about meningococcal disease.

* Cinema Advertising: Starting this Saturday July 12th six cinemas in and around Auckland will be showing Val Morgan in-cinema advertisements designed to raise awareness about "not sharing spit" This is a key message in a strategy to reduce the risk of contracting meningococcal disease. If this is successful and funding is available the programme will be extended nationwide.

* Radio Advertising: Mai FM is running from today July 11th an advertising campaign aimed at their predominantly teenage audience. Again the message is about "not sharing spit" and is in "funky rap" style.

* Advertisements in magazines are planned for later this month. Trustees and its Doctor advisers have been active in writing articles for publication.

* Support for Communities: Doctors with the Trust addressed a community meeting in Waiouru last Friday after the recent tragic death in that town. The Trust is prepared to address other communities.

* Clinics: Trust staff are following up Medical Clinics with material and information on the disease designed to raise awareness and assist in education.

* Visits to schools, sports clubs and parent meetings etc: Trust staff continue to visit and advocate the "don't spit" message. Videos and other resources are distributed free of charge in the hope that better awareness will assist in reducing the incidence of meningococcal cases.

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