- The campaign “Each One Teach One” addresses the alarming rise in stroke cases across India, emphasizing the urgent need for specialized training and resources to improve stroke care nationwide
- Strokes are one of the leading causes of death and disability in India, affecting approximately 1.8 million people annually
- 70% of the strokes are preventable just by controlling hypertension, diabetes, avoiding smoking, alcohol and drugs, doing regular exercises and avoiding sedentary lifestyle and controlling cholesterol and other risk factors
- Identifying the early symptoms of a stroke and hospitalising patients within the golden hour -first 4.5 hours – is critical in preventing fatalities and long-term disabilities
- While strokes were traditionally more common in individuals in their 50s, we are now witnessing an alarming increase in cases among people aged 30 to 40: Dr Arvind Sharma, Secretary, Indian Stroke Association (ISA) & Head of the Department of Neurology at Zydus Hospital, Ahmedabad
NE HEALTH BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, DEC 8
Stating that Gujarat tops the incidence of brain stroke cases than the national average, to further its mission of providing superior stroke care for improved patient outcomes and create awareness among masses and physicians, focusing on acute, chronic care, and rehabilitation support, the Indian Stroke Association on Saturday launched The Ahmedabad Chapter of ‘Mission Brain Attack’, its 20th centre in the country.
The Indian Stroke Association (ISA) has launched MISSION BRAIN ATTACK, an initiative aimed at enhancing the awareness, education, and training of healthcare professionals in stroke prevention, immediate treatment, and rehabilitation. The campaign “Each One Teach One” addresses the alarming rise in stroke cases across India, emphasizing the urgent need for specialized training and resources to improve stroke care nationwide.
Strokes are one of the leading causes of death and disability in India, affecting approximately 1.8 million people annually. As the second most common cause of mortality and the third leading cause of disability, strokes have had a significant impact on the country’s healthcare system. Despite this, awareness about stroke symptoms and timely intervention remains low. MISSION BRAIN ATTACK seeks to close this gap by offering healthcare providers critical training on recognizing stroke symptoms early and implementing effective care protocols to improve patient outcomes.
The golden hour for stroke treatment is 4 hours and 30 minutes. Prompt medical treatment within this period can reverse the effect of stroke. The MISSION BRAIN ATTACK initiative is designed to equip physicians and medical practitioners with critical information and practical training on recognizing stroke symptoms early, implementing effective treatment protocols, and delivering comprehensive care for patients experiencing strokes. The program will include workshops, webinars, real-time case studies, and access to cutting-edge online resources. These elements will help ensure that healthcare providers across India are familiar with the latest best practices in stroke management.
“The initiative includes a comprehensive program of workshops, webinars, real-time case studies, and access to online resources. With the increasing incidence of strokes in India, prompt measures are essential. We aim to introduce an affordable catheter for treating brain stroke patients, which will significantly lower the surgical costs associated with brain strokes,” said Dr. Nirmal Surya, Consulting Neurophysician and President of the ISA.
“Through MISSION BRAIN ATTACK, we are equipping healthcare professionals with the skills they need to respond effectively when a brain attack occurs, which can significantly impact a patient’s recovery and chances of survival. So far we have trained over 5,000 medicos and planned to double it in a year,” added Dr Surya.
“In India, every minute, three people experience a brain stroke. However, there are only about 4,000 to 5,000 neurologists available nationwide to treat these patients within the critical ‘golden window.’ To address this, ISA has launched initiatives to educate both doctors and the general public on preventive measures and appropriate actions during this crucial time,” Dr Surya said.
“Lifestyle changes, inadequate sleep, and neglecting regular health check-ups are major contributors to the rising incidence of strokes. While strokes were traditionally more common in individuals in their 50s, we are now witnessing an alarming increase in cases among people aged 30 to 40. Previously, only 5% of strokes occurred in this age group, but this has surged to 10-15%. Disturbingly, even younger individuals aged 20 to 30 are now experiencing strokes,” Dr Arvind Sharma, Secretary, Indian Stroke Association (ISA) Head of the Department of Neurology at Zydus Hospital Ahmedabad.
“Gujarat tops the incidence of brain stroke cases than the national average. The symptoms of a stroke are BEFAST, B means imbalance problem, walking difficulty, E is an eye problem, loss of vision, double vision. F is asymmetry of the face, drooping of the face, A is dropping of arm or leg when you ask to raise and S is difficulty in speech, speaking, or comprehension, and This time. This slogan BEFAST is very essential, so time counts, and every second counts. Prevent stroke, treat as early as possible, identify the symptoms and take the patient to the nearby hospital without wasting time, rule out hemorrhage and other conditions, and give thrombolysis therapy, admit the patient to the ICU, this is an act of humanity,” concluded Padma Shree Dr Sudhir Shah.
Primary stroke centres will be required to fulfill basic requirements to be an accredited centre such as availability of CT scan, necessary drugs, treating physician and requisite bed capacity, while advanced stroke centres will require everything requisite for stroke care.
