Act For Meningitis Limited
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Mission Statement
The mission of ACT for Meningitis is to save lives through disease awareness and education and to provide vital support to those affected by meningitis in Ireland
About This Cause
ACT (Aoibhe Carroll Trust) for Meningitis was formed in 2011. The charity was set up to ensure that no other family would experience the isolation and loneliness experienced by our founder resulting from the sudden death of her child from Meningitis. ACT has developed from a small charity with emphasis on disease awareness to become the only charity in Ireland that provide a wide range of free support services to families affected by this disease.Anyone, of any age, from any background, can contract the potentially fatal disease, known as meningitis. Incidence of meningitis is once again on the increase in Ireland and early diagnosis is the one proven method to improving survivorship and prevention of long term disabilities. It is vital that nationally, parents, young adults and the general adult populationare made aware of the symptoms of meningitis to ensure 1) they are treated as early as possible 2) the spread of infection is reduced and 3) thephysical, intellectual and psychologicalimpact on individuals infected is minimised. It is as equally as important to provide supports & services for those who survive, and for those that have sadly lost loves ones.In ACT our aim is to raise awareness nationally in relation to recognising signs and symptoms of meningitis through education and health promotion and to provide a range of support to those directly affected by meningitis in Ireland. Our Vision is to see an Ireland where lives are no longer lost to meningitis; and through our support services no one faces the meningitis survivorship journey alone. Part of our 3 year strategic plan is to build a unique Centre of Excellence, namely “Aoibhe’s House”. This will provide a base where essential support services can be provided to those impacted by meningitis in a safe and secure environment. The centre will also coordinate the delivery of vital training and life-saving awareness at a national level. ACT Key Activities:Raising awareness: For the past number of years ACT have coordinated and implemented a vigorous National Meningitis awareness campaign in health, educational and public settings.Our Annual National Awareness Campaigns includes disseminating information to all target population areas through health and educational facilities as well as through social and print media. Our campaign to raise awareness among parents of young children include distribution of signs and symptoms cards in conjunction with pharmacies and GP surgery’s nationally, ACTion Teds Crèche Campaignand “Back To School “Winter Warning. Among our young adult population we have a targeted transition year and 3rd level Student Awareness Campaign “It Might Not Be A Hangover”. These programmes have been delivered by ACT throughout hundreds of facilities across the country with information talks, distribution of free awareness materials, and print & radio media press releases and interviews. ACT for Meningitis currently provide a wide range of free support services, tailored to individual needs, to anyone affected by Meningitis in Ireland either through bereavement or living with severe after effects of the disease. Survivors can be left with permanent physical and intellectual disabilities and can often feel isolated, confused, excluded and depressed. As for those that sadly pass away, so suddenly and without warning, the impact on their families is incomprehensible. There appears to be a belief in the general population that meningitis is a childhood illness. This however is not the case. In adulthood the impact of meningitis results in loss of educational opportunities, loss of income, loss of homes, marriages break up and in extreme cases suicide. Our supports include Counselling, Play therapy, “Reconnecting After Meningitis” Workshops, Home Visits, “Me Too” Workshops, Family Support Days, “You, Your Thoughts and Your ACTions” Course, and Remembrance Days.