Keele becomes one of the first universities awarded a meningitis awareness mark
Keele University has signed up to the UK’s first Meningitis Aware Recognition Mark (MARM) for Universities, developed by charity Meningitis Now.
The charity aims to raise awareness of meningitis and meningococcal disease (meningitis and septicaemia) among students and staff and promote vaccine uptake.
Ian Munton, Associate Director of Student Services at Keele University, said: “We’re really pleased to be awarded the Meningitis Aware Recognition Mark showing that we’re raising awareness amongst students and staff and promoting vaccine uptake.
“It’s important to us to demonstrate to our students that we care about their health and welfare and have a plan in place should the worst happen.
“The mark is a great initiative and the online platform makes it really straightforward to register for and work towards.”
Meningitis can affect anyone at any time, but there are particular factors that increase the risk of meningococcal meningitis and septicaemia in students, particularly those in their first year. These include higher carriage rates and increased social interaction, where spread of bacteria that students have not encountered previously is more likely.
Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of Meningitis Now, said: “Every university in the UK could experience at least one case of meningitis, particularly among first year students. In recent years there have been a number of deaths among students – each a tragedy for the individual, their family and friends and the university.
“That’s why, with support from ‘a Life for a Cure’ and the James Tudor Foundation we’ve developed our successful Meningitis Aware Recognition Mark for universities.”
Visit Meningitis Now to find out more about the initiative.