1 in 6 people worldwide will have a stroke in their lifetime. Of these, a third will survive, a third will die, and a third will end up with severe disability. The incidence of strokes in Nigeria has reached epidemic proportions. The World Health Organization identified that 81,610 Nigerians died of stroke in 2004 (WHO 2004). Each year, approximately 82,000 Nigerians also survive a stroke (WHO 2004).
The World Stroke Organisation (WSO) declared a global fight against strokes from 2011 onwards. Stroke Action Nigeria, is a member of the WSO and recently entered into partnership with its UK arm, Stroke Action UK (SAUK), both not-for-profit sister organisations working with stroke survivors and their caregivers. The strategic partnership also involves the Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain (MANSAG) for better stroke management in Nigeria.
This partnership which was agreed in Plymouth, South West England recently, will lead to the establishment of a Stroke Action Alliance in the United Kingdom to drive better stroke care in Nigeria by tapping into the extensive resources of Nigerian medical and allied healthcare professionals in MANSAG.
The alliance will also help to drive the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Stroke Action Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) on 30 September 2013.
Rita Melifonwu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Stroke Action Nigeria expressed her delight at the ground-breaking partnership, saying that the organisation’s hope of providing holistic approach to preventative care, rehabilitation, self-management and social support for stroke survivors and their families in Nigeria is being fulfilled.
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“This partnership is an affirmation of our commitment to provide necessary care and a well thought out approach in managing stroke survivors and support for their caregivers in Nigeria. We are well pleased with how far we have progressed in stroke care and we will continue in that manner to achieve maximum output,” Rita said.
She also revealed that concrete plans are in place to ensure proper implementation of all agreed policies. “As a first step, a high-level stakeholder meeting of the Joint Technical Committee that advises on medical education and healthcare delivery in Nigeria has been scheduled to hold in November 2014 where it is expected to facilitate the setting up of a Stroke Reference Group with the Federal Ministry of Health representatives as contained in the SAN-FMOH pact,” she said.
Kemi Ajumobi