Christian Medical College organises virtual international symposium on stroke with world health organisation

Ludhiana: Every year October 29 is observed as World Stroke Day to highlight the increasing rates of stroke, its seriousness, raise awareness of the prevention and treatment and ensure comprehensive support and care for survivors. Low- and middle-income countries account for over 65% of stroke cases worldwide. South East Asia, the home to a quarter of the world’s population, has a high burden of stroke. Stroke awareness is poor and stroke care services are not well developed and fragmented. Most countries face challenges with stroke care delivery, stroke care infrastructure, resources and human resources.

This year, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana is organizing a virtual international symposium on stroke with World Health Organization on Improving Stroke Care Services in South East Asia Region. The symposium is a half-day event among the Member States and partners. The participants will reflect on stroke care services and discuss on the improvements that can be implemented in the Region. The event will be graced by Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director of WHO-SEARO, Dr. Thaksaphon Thamarangsi, Director, Department of Healthy Population, and Non-Communicable Diseases, WHO-SEARO.  The guest of honor at the event is Dr. Michael Brainin, President of the World Stroke Organization. Dr. Gampo Dorji, WHO-SEARO and Dr. Jeyaraj D Pandian, Principal, Christian Medical College, Ludhiana; Vice President, World Stroke Organization will coordinate the forum. The expert panelists on the forum are from India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The topics that would be addressed are stroke, evidence-based acute management of stroke, its prevention, surgical treatment of stroke, rehabilitation for stroke, and stroke unit care. Case stories for stroke improvement initiatives will be presented by Dr. Tashi Tenzin from Bhutan, Dr. Rasheed Ahmed from the Maldives, Dr. Kyaw Kan Kaung from Myanmar and Dr. Brigido de Deus from Timor Leste. A pathway for improving stroke care services for these countries will be discussed by the respective representatives from the Ministry of Health and World Health Organization officials of each country. The participants at the event will include representatives from the Ministry of Health and World Health Organization offices of South-East Asian countries, neurologists, neurosurgeons, rehabilitation therapists, nurses, community health workers and health volunteers.

The Department of Neurology at Christian Medical College & Hospital, Ludhiana, headed by Dr. Jeyaraj Durai Pandian, is currently collaborating with the World Health Organization’s South-East Asia Regional Office to provide technical support to Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste in South East Asia, to aid them in establishing efficient stroke care services. Stroke care services include immediate medical and surgical interventions, followed by extensive rehabilitative services. The project aims at improving stroke care services at the community level, in primary, secondary, and tertiary health care settings. The technical support provided includes training of stroke care services personnel, capacity building for stroke care units and services, and establishing stroke care units in various levels of the health care system.