Coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate has called for heightened awareness and proactive measures to combat the high incidence of stroke in Nigeria.
Professor Pate made the call in Abuja on Monday, as part of the activities to commemorate the World Stroke Day with the theme, “Together we are #GreaterThan Stroke,” which emphasizes the power of collective action in stroke prevention.
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He explained that stroke is a cardiovascular disease that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is reduced or blocked, depriving brain tissue of essential oxygen and nutrients, adding that symptoms can range from paralysis or numbness on one side of the body, confusion, difficulty speaking or swallowing, impaired coordination, to severe headaches.
The minister adduced that the high incidence of stroke in Nigeria is driven by prevalent risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, poor dietary choices, alcohol use, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle.
In a statement by the director of press and public relations in the ministry, Patricia Deworitshe, the minister further stated that the World Stroke Organization reports that stroke is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting over 12 million people each year, adding, however, that up to 90% of strokes are preventable.
Professor Pate also enjoined health workers to come together to share key messages on stroke prevention and take action that will help individuals understand and address these risks.
Earlier, director of public health department, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike stated that Nigeria bears a significant burden of stroke, noting that current data indicates crude stroke prevalence rates as high as 1331 cases.
Anyaike further revealed from Hospital-based data that stroke is the most common cause of adult neurological admissions in many parts of the country, adding that up to 40% of patients admitted for acute strokes in Nigeria do not survive beyond 30 days, while many survivors are left with varying degrees of disability and face substantial lifetime costs due to rehabilitation and social reintegration.
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