PR98480

GENEVA, Oct. 28, 2022 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ -

On World Stroke Day (29th Oct), the World Stroke Organization has announced the

launch of a new program that aims to drive access to quality acute stroke care

and save lives around the world.

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The WSO Stroke Certification initiative is a strategic response to the results

of a WHO-WSO survey which found that less than half (49%) of countries could

provide comprehensive evidence-based acute stroke care. The survey also

identified a huge gap in provision of care between high- and low- and

middle-income countries. While 91% of high-income countries were able to

provide access to specialist stroke unit care, the number was just 8% in

low-income countries.

Two of the fundamental markers of quality acute stroke care are the provision

of thrombolysis (the removal of blood clots using intravenous medication) and

thrombectomy (the removal of blood clots by keyhole surgery). Research

published by WSO found global rates of access to these treatments stand at 46%

and 30% respectively.

'One in four of us will have a stroke in our lifetime, yet the majority of

people globally lack access to effective treatment and stroke center care. On

top of this, a lack of effective global prevention strategies has led us to a

place where stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading

cause of disability worldwide, with a soaring human and economic cost,' said

WSO President Professor Marc Fisher. Incoming WSO President and leading

Brazilian neurologist, Professor Sheila Martins added: 'We have the knowledge

and tools that could save millions of lives and hundreds of millions of

dollars. Delivering quality stroke care is not just the right thing to do, it's

the smart thing to do.'

WSO's Global Stroke Guidelines and Action Plan aim to help institutions and

governments implement evidence-based criteria and standards for care developed

by WSO. Initially targeting hospitals in middle-income countries, the program

will be launched on Nov 1st with the primary aim of growing the global network

of accredited stroke care providers.

Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. On World Stroke

Day the public, health care professionals, stroke survivors, politicians and

industry leaders will come together to raise awareness of stroke symptoms and

the importance of timely treatment.  

The public can follow the campaign on social media using #Precioustime and help

raise awareness by sharing a clock selfie [

http://www.worldstrokecampaign.org/create-a-post ] or participating in the

strokespotter.org online game challenge [ http://www.strokespotter.org/ ].

Notes to Editors

  I.  The World Stroke Organization is the only global body solely focused on

stroke. With around 3000 individual and 100 society members, spanning every

global region, we represent over 55,000 stroke specialists in clinical research

and support services. WSO is in official relations with WHO and has UN

consultative status.

  II.  The WSO Stroke Certification program builds on the WSO-SIEVC

Certification program in Latin America and the Caribbean

https://www.world-stroke.org/news-and-blog/news/wso-siecv-certification-of-stroke-centers-in-latin-america-and-caribbean

  III.  State of stroke services across the globe

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/17474930211019568

  IV.  WSO Global Stoke Factsheet

https://www.world-stroke.org/publications-and-resources/resources/global-stroke-fact-sheet

  V.  World Stroke Day website www.worldstrokecampaign.org　

Contact: Anita Wiseman, Campaign & Partnerships Manager, WSO

campaign@world-stroke.org +447940029444

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source: World Stroke Day Campaign