CoMO conference 2025: global collaboration to defeat meningitis

CoMO
Jul 31
3 min read

The CoMO conference 2025 took place in June and brought together advocates, survivors, researchers, and health professionals from around the world. It was an inspiring and impactful gathering, centred on a shared mission: defeating meningitis.

The conference featured a powerful mix of personal stories, scientific updates, advocacy strategy, and practical skills training. It provided a unique space for collaboration, learning, and renewed commitment to global meningitis advocacy.

Who attended

The CoMO Conference brought together a diverse and passionate group of 41 people, showcasing the global nature of the fight against meningitis.

Attendees included healthcare professionals, scientific experts, meningitis survivors and those who have lost loved ones to the disease. This diverse group brought a wide range of insights and experiences, enriching every session with their perspectives.

To ensure inclusivity, CoMO provided travel subsidies for some members. This allowed participants from far-reaching communities to come who may not have otherwise had the ability to do so.

One member shared: “Words can't really describe my appreciation for receiving a subsidy. It has been a spark of motivation to stay on this path and to show even greater commitment than before in championing this cause.”

Group of CoMO members at the conference taking a picture together

What was covered

The conference offered a mix of expert presentations, interactive discussions and skills-based training sessions. It opened with updates on the global state of meningitis from Meningitis Research Foundation Chief Executive, Vinny Smith.

He reiterated the importance of the Race to 2030 campaign and how CoMO members are essential in realising this ambitious global goal.

Personal stories and connection

A deeply moving part of the event focused on personal experience with meningitis. Throughout the conference, we focused on the impact meningitis has had on people's personal lives, organising a ‘Shine a light wall’ where people could share images of loved ones lost to meningitis.

Four members shared their personal stories in depth, which helped people connect even more and understand what one another had been through. This was a major highlight for many attendees, with one member saying it was their favourite session: “It is always good to hear what the members are doing and the personal stories”.

Networking

As always, networking was at the centre of the conference, allowing members to meet in person and get to know each other better.

One member said, “Networking meeting other like-minded people from across the globe - invaluable to understand more of some of the cultural barriers and challenges that are present relating to meningitis”.

Latest science updates

A key highlight on Saturday was the science update, where Dr. Susan Meiring, Dr C P Ravi Kumar and Action Amos explored how we can help meningitis survivors who suffer with the after-effects of the disease.

Dr. Meiring provided insights into the burden of bacterial meningitis in high-risk populations.
Action Amos offered a human-centred perspective on neurological disability.
Dr Kumar discussed his experiences treating patients in India and supporting their recovery and coping with after-effects of meningitis.

This session resonated deeply with members. One member said they could “ relate the material to personal experience as a survivor”.

Social media for advocacy

Sunday's highlight was the social media skills masterclass session led by digital media specialist Michael Salzwedel.

Attendees gained hands-on guidance on using social media for advocacy, which is critical for raising awareness, especially in under-resourced settings. Michael’s session explained content creation, ethical AI use and engagement strategies for advocacy campaigns.

Looking ahead

The CoMO Conference 2025 was not just a space for reflection; it was a catalyst for future action. Laura Ross, Head of CoMO presented the success of World Meningitis Day 2024, which reached 1.7 billion people globally.

Members were shown examples of how we can all work together to make this World Meningitis Day 2025 stronger and more impactful this October 5th. With an emphasis on survivor stories and coordinated campaigns, this year’s plans aim to significantly boost public engagement across the globe.

Another standout session was the Race to 2030 workshop, which guided members on how to develop and advance national plans in their country. This included goals around vaccine advocacy, government engagement and education as well as brainstorming and learning from other people in the room.

One member said the workshop “was a great opportunity to learn more about what other members are doing globally in advocacy, and to brainstorm what could be useful coming out of the national plans.”

Brian Nambale writing on a whiteboard during a session

Moving forward together

The CoMO Conference 2025 brought together a global community of advocates, survivors and experts from around the world to share knowledge and build lasting connections. Members left inspired, connected and better equipped to drive positive change in their countries and communities.

As one attendee put it: “Comradery for a common goal is very powerful – it only strengthens the momentum of CoMO.”