NE HEALTH BUREAU
CHENNAI, DEC 14
Two neurologists from Apollo Speciality Hospitals Vanagaram set off on a bike rally today to create awareness on the extended time window (24 hours) for “Stroke” care. The vision of the rally is “To create awareness on the importance of TIME in Stroke”.
Minister for Rural Industries P.Benjamin flagged off the rally. Prior to this Actor Arya extended his support to the team by greeting the riders.
The treatment for stroke is highly dependent on “time” of presentation to hospital. If a patient with Ischemic Stroke is brought to a comprehensive stroke care center within 4.5 hours the patient is eligible to receive a clot bursting medication (thrombolysis). If there is a demonstrable clot in the Angiogram, and the patient is brought to the centre within 6 hours, then patient is eligible for a procedure called thrombectomy where the clot is mechanically removed. The Stroke window period has now been extended from 6 hours to 24 hours (in selected patients). The awareness about the importance of TIME in the management of stroke is abysmally low in our state of Tamilnadu.
To take this all important message across to the people Apollo Speciality Hospitals Vanagaram, has organized this mass roadshow across the state with Chennai as the start point and Kannyakumari as the end point covering various districts across Tamil Nadu between 12th to 15th December.
Two neurologists Dr. Prabash (MD, DM), Dr. Arunkumar (MD,DM), will cover 2000 Kms in 4 days. An ambulance will be accompanying the entourage. The Rally will involve 40 awareness talks in the districts including Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Puducherry, Karaikal, Trichy, Madurai, Nagercoil, Marthandam and Kanyakumari in various forums enroute including, Lions clubs Rotary clubs, Industries, Apollo pharmacies and hospitals, a release from the Apollo Hospitals Group said.
