Welcome to the website of the Associated New Zealand ME Society (ANZMES), serving New Zealanders with Myalgic Encephalopathy / Chronic Fatigue Syndrome since 1980.

ANZMES is proactive and busy serving existing members and assisting those who are newly diagnosed, as well as helping those who may only suspect they are sufferers.

ME (Myalgic Encephalopathy) is a debilitating disease that can affect  anyone. In New Zealand, it is estimated that there are around 20,000 sufferers.  It is thought to afflict around 150,000 in the UK, and over one million in the US. The economic cost to each family with a sufferer has been estimated to be in the region of NZ$30-40,000 per year.

Medical definitions of the condition vary, but the following elements are considered common:

ANZMES undertakes a wide range of functions for members including:

Click here to read a story of an ME sufferer.

There is a network of support groups throughout New Zealand, and ANZMES is the national body. We believe that both local support and national coordination is necessary.

On this website, you will find a range of useful information for sufferers, caregivers, friends and medical professionals. It is an evolving site however, so please visit again. If you have a suggestion to make please contact one of the people on the Contacts page.

ANZMES is one of the oldest ME associations in the world. In 2005, we celebrated our 25th anniversary! We are looking forward to the next 25 years, so this is a great time to join this active organisation.

The logo in the top left corner of this page symbolises the benefit that a national organisation and local support groups can provide to sufferers. The albatross takes advantage of great updrafts of warm air to soar very high, and this is the aim of our group.

JOIN US

By joining ANZMES, not only will you be helping others with ME/CFS, you will also receive the benefits of membership.

Click Here for details

***************

LATEST NEWS

***************  

  CONFE RENCE 

     Dr Ros Vallings  attended the IACFS/ME conference on

March 12-15.

A full report appears HERE

and in the June issue of Meeting Place

***************

BOARD APPOINTMENT

AT IACFS/ME

Dr Ros Vallings has been appointed to the board of IACFS/ME and also as editor of their three times a year published newsletter.

In addition Dr Vallings will serve on a subcommittee of IACFS/ME as the New Zealand ambassador which involves increasing the New Zealand membership, particularly from Doctors, GPs and other Health officials, and fostering international collaborations.

***************

VISIT OF
Dr CHARLES LAPP
To read the Diary of an  International Project Click
HERE

*************

Conference Reports

All conference reports can be read by clicking here or entering the library.

                   HERE

***************

AWARD

  Dr Ros Vallings

    awarded MNZM in the 2008 New Years Honours awards.

  To read more click

  ***************

MEETING NOTICES

For details of Support Group meetings and venues where Dr Vallings will be speaking click HERE

***************

NOTICE

JUNE

MEETING PLACE

Please   send in your own stories  about the how   loneliness and uncertainty affected you on your journey with ME/CFS

***************

If you are involved in an ME Awareness Day event, please write to us so we can help you publicise it.