Stroke Awareness Month: Angels on a life-saving mission at local taxi rank
The Heart and Stroke Foundation and pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim, had a unique way of making the community aware of stroke.
Throughout the week of 23 – 27 October, the Heart and Stroke Foundation partnered with Boehringer Ingelheim to raise awareness about the dangers of strokes in several communities around Johannesburg – and Kagiso was not left behind.
If you had a stroke, your chances of recovery would depend on two critical factors: somebody recognising that you were experiencing a stroke and getting you to hospital quickly, plus having access to a hospital with the right diagnostic equipment and well-trained staff to offer the correct care without delay.
Throughout this week, a unique health partnership, the Angels Initiative, worked at major commuter hubs in some parts of Johannesburg to spread stroke awareness and empower members of the public to respond appropriately in a stroke emergency. The series of health activations is part of the internationally observed Stroke Awareness Month and local partners include the Gauteng Department of Health, the Heart and Stroke Foundation and pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim.
On Tuesday 24 October, Angels mobilisers and provincial health promoters – easily identifiable in their feathery wings – focused their energies on the taxi rank in Kagiso, handing out leaflets, talking about strokes, and encouraging commuters to take good care of their health. In addition, healthcare workers appealed to commuters to stop for a few minutes and get their blood pressure checked immediately, as high blood pressure is major risk factor for stroke – and many people are unaware they have high blood pressure until the damage occurs.
These sentiments were echoed by Suzan Raputhi-Letsoalo, a stroke survivor from Magaliesburg.
“I am truly lucky to be alive today, because few people survive the kind of stroke I had. So, I want to encourage people to listen and take this education seriously.
It may help you save a life one day – because strokes can be merciless and there is just a small window of time when you can make things better,” said Suzan
The Angels Initiative not only aims to educate the public on strokes but also to improve the ability of public and private hospitals to provide treatment. Specialised diagnostic equipment is needed to establish whether a stroke has been caused by a blockage in a blood vessel supplying the brain, or by the rupture of a damaged blood vessel which causes bleeding in the brain. Leading cardiologists, neurologists, and experts in emergency medicine, rehabilitation and other relevant disciplines have enthusiastically supported the initiative. A range of private hospital groups has come on board, as have several provincial health departments. Treatment protocols have been developed and training in the use of these protocols will commence in 2018.
Boehringer Ingelheim Medical Director, Dr Shanil Naidoo, said the response has been incredibly encouraging.
“We believe that we can make a huge improvement to the quality of stroke care across the board if we share our knowledge more generously and coordinate our services better. Strokes do not discriminate between rich and poor, and we must ensure everyone has access to effective stroke care,” said Shanil.
Do you perhaps have more information pertaining to this story? Email us at krugersdorpnews@caxton.co.za or phone us on 011 955 1130.
For free daily local news on the West Rand, also visit our sister websites:
Remember to visit our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages to let your voice be heard!
