October 29 2019 is World Stroke Day

New Research shows that, 1 in 4 Persons will have a stroke in their life time- Don’t Be the One. An Urgent Action on Stroke Prevention in Ghana

World Stroke Day is a day in a year set aside to raise awareness on stroke prevention, treatment and support for persons living with stroke in Ghana and across the globe

Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana, has today joined the global call for urgent action to prevent stroke in Ghana. The call to action, issued by SASNET GHANA to mark World Stroke Day on Tuesday 29th October, responds to new data that shows stroke is responsible for over 116 million years of life lived with disability (YLD) worldwide and 1 in 4 could have a stroke in their life time. This adds to existing global mortality data that positions stroke as the second largest cause of death.

There are an estimated 17.5 million strokes worldwide each year. 10,220 stroke cases occur in Ghana every year by which the number of stroke cases continues to double. The incidence of stroke is high across the various regions of Ghana with the highest cases occurring in the Eastern, Ashanti, Central, Volta, Greater Accra, Western, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana in that order. Whilst stroke incidence and mortality rates in high income countries have been on the decline, progress is still slow and uneven. Stroke cases across the regional hospitals in Ghana keep on increasing throughout the year. There are also indications that the risk factors for stroke such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes and smoking are becoming increasingly prevalent in both high and low-income countries that includes Ghana

The most predominant risk factors for the cause of stroke amongst Ghanaians include; hypertension, alcohol abuse, use of unpriscribed contraceptive pills (among female), lack of exercise, diabetes, atrial fibrillation (Heart diseases). Smoking, high blood cholesterol, physical in activities and depression/Stress, Sickle cell anaemia (especially in the cases of children having Stroke) This has the potential to slow progress on stroke prevention in Ghana.

The theme for the 2019 World Stroke Day is -Don’t Be The One, When It Comes To Stroke. SASNET-GHANA and partners are focusing on the risk factors and preventions of Stoke in Ghana. SASNET and partners are urging Ghanaians to find it very prudent to prevent stroke in their lives by know the causes and the risk factors for stroke. And by using the FAST test (F-Face,A-Arms ,S-Speech and T-Time, stroke is a medical emergency, if you recognize these signs one has to visit the hospital) sign for an early detection when a person is being attack with a Stroke .The stroke riskometer is Designed for easily assessment ones risk factors of having stroke in a person’s life time .As a country there’s the needs to have an able-healthy
individuals to fill all the sectors of the economy . The youth are at for stroke due their lifestyles. We all have reasons to prevent a stroke. Therefore, Don’t Be The One -When It Comes To Stroke.

Stroke is the number one contributor of disability globally and the second cause of death.
Out of the total 41 million deaths of NCDs global, stroke accounts for more than 48% of all NCDs causes.
There are over 80 million (Global burden of diseases) people currently living with stroke and have had stroke globally.
Stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Without blood, brain cells can be damaged or die.
In Ghana , stroke accounts for more than 50% of the total 94,000 deaths of NCDs annually.
Nearly 14 million people will have a stroke this year and around 5.5 million people will die as a result.
Stroke can have different short-and long-term effects depending on which part of the brain is affected and how quickly it is treated.

Survivors can experience wide ranging disabilities including difficulties with mobility and speech, as well as how they think and feel..
There are two main types of stroke ischemic and hemorrhagic. Stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off. Without blood, brain cells can be damaged or die.

Addressing these risk factors would not just have a major impact on stroke, they would also prevent deaths from other non-communicable diseases. Giving urgent priority to prevention now will yield obvious benefits in terms of reduced human, social and economic costs.’

Stroke Association Support network-Ghana will work to improve Ghanaians health with respect to stroke/Cardiovascular diseases by advocating for population wide prevention strategies; improved and cost-effective screening and management of stroke risks and the development of regional and national stroke strategies that address prevention as well as treatment and support through the Community Life After Stroke Program(CLASP) Reintegration for Persons Living With Stroke of which the Second phase will take place in the Volta region and will be replicated across the country .
Using the stroke riskometer for personal assessment for ones risk for a stroke. https://www.strokeriskometer.com/Global Burden of stroke fact sheet LinkH https://www.world-stroke.org/images/WSO_Global_Stroke_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Kind Regards
Chief Dr Ben S Jabuni, President of SASNET GHANA
0245825705

Ad Adams Ebenezer,
Executive Director SASNET GHANA
0262463986/0555886912