Foyle MP Mark Durkan supporting the Meningitis Now campaign at Westminsterwith Emma and Darren Cowey from Tullyally, Derry.
Tributes will are to paid tomorrow to the “incredible” work of Foyle SDLP MP Mark Durkan in helping to secure a new vaccine against the deadly meningitis B – which is set to become available for free on the National Health Service (NHS).
Sue Davie, chief executive of Britain’s biggest meningitis charity, Meningitis Now, will pay the tribute at a parliamentary reception in Westminster.
Mr Durkan tabled a number of parliamentary motions at Westminster calling on the British g=Government to introduce the new vaccine (Bexsero) and also supported the local campaign by Derry parents Emma and Darren Cowey, from Tullyally in Derry, who lost their nine-month-old son Jamie to meningitis B in November 2004.
Ms Davie will praise the Foyle MP for “going the extra mile” in securing the vaccine’s availability on the NHS.
Speaking ahead of the event, she said: “I find it hard to express how grateful I am for Mark Durkan’s incredible support of our campaign to secure the introduction of the new MenB vaccine.
“The announcement (by the government in March) was fantastic and a huge step forward.
“Mark’s willingness to always go the extra mile – with the Early Day Motions, encouraging other MPs to get involved and, right up to the end of this phase of the campaign, with the action day on 24 February, helping us to get over 40 MPs along just to a photocall, and introducing the Shadow Chancellor to our campaign – has played such a big part and I am so very grateful.”
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