The meningitis community is a powerful force for progress, but it has never had a unifying symbol it can rally behind. Until now.
The Meningitis Flag is inspired by para-athletes affected by this devastating disease. Because when these athletes compete, they not only fly the flag for their country; they fly the flag to defeat meningitis.
Designed With and for the Community
The Meningitis Flag has been co-created with Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF), the Confederation of Meningitis Organisations (CoMO), Sanofi, and three para-athletes affected by the disease: Theo Curin, Davide Morana, and Ellie Challis.
This flag is the first ever global symbol that the meningitis community, patient groups, global organizations and the medical community can rally behind to help accelerate their work to defeat meningitis by 2030.
A Unifying Symbol
The idea of 3 is a key element in the design. It represents the 3 meninges (membrane layers that protect and support the brain and spinal cord), the idea of “protect, support, defeat” and the meningitis community - individuals, their families and wider levels of support.
Protect
The yellow semi-circle represents the patient as the bright, hopeful center of the movement, symbolizing that every individual is important.
Support
Protecting the individual is a purple triangle – a nod to families who play a supportive role. It is pointing upwards like an arrow, symbolizing speed and positivity in the race against meningitis.
Defeat
The final layer is a sea of blue, symbolizing a sense of steadfastness in the movement to defeat meningitis.
The Meningitis Flag Received the Impact 2024 Label
The Meningitis Flag has been awarded the Impact 2024 label from Paris 2024 and its partners. This certification highlights the efforts in promoting health, inclusivity, solidarity and equality through sport.
Laura Spring flying the Meningitis FlagMeet The Designer
Laura Spring is a textile designer. Led by research and her respect for the environment, Laura’s textiles are thoughtful, timeless and made with joy. Consideration of color and ethical production practices are also at the heart of what Laura creates. This project resonated with Laura in particular due to a personal connection to meningitis and her passion for working with communities.
Meningitis Affects Millions
Meningitis is the swelling of the meninges, which is the lining around the brain and spinal cord, caused mainly by germs entering the body1. It is a potentially life-threatening illness that affects more than 2.5 million people globally each year.2 It can affect anyone at any age and can kill within 24 hours.1
Despite efforts to combat it, awareness and progress are falling behind other diseases. To change this, the World Health Organization (WHO) developed a global roadmap to defeat meningitis by 2030 – an ambitious goal many organizations are working to achieve.
Explore More
Meningococcal Meningitis
Media Library
The Meningitis Flag Photos
References
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World Health Organization. Meningitis. Accessed July 2023.
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Schiess N, Groce NE, Dua T. The Impact and Burden of Neurological Sequelae Following Bacterial Meningitis: A Narrative Review. Microorganisms. 2021 Apr 22;9(5):900. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9050900. PMID: 33922381; PMCID: PMC8145552.