World Stroke Day(WSD) is annually observed across the globe on 29 October to raise awareness of the serious nature and high rates of stroke, and the effective treatment options available to drive action on stroke prevention.
Theme:
The theme for WSD 2024, designated by the World Stroke Organisation (WSO), is “#GreaterThan Stroke active challenge”.
- The theme highlights the emotional impact of sports to raise awareness about stroke, inspiring action towards prevention and rehabilitation efforts.
Background:
i.The World Stroke Congress in Vancouver, Canada, in 2004 established World Stroke Day(WSD), which falls on October 29.
- Dr. Vladimir Hachinski led the formation of a working group, which in October 2006 became a World Stroke Proclamation.
- In 2006, WSO was formed by the merger of the International Stroke Society (ISS) and the World Stroke Federation (WSF).
ii.The first WSD was observed on 29th October 2006.
WSDCampaign 2024:
i.Along with a focus on stroke prevention, and symptom awareness, the WSD Campaign aims to ensure better care and support for survivors.
ii.WSD’s campaign theme #GreaterThan Stroke’ emphasises prevention, prioritises health checks to manage major stroke risk factors including Hypertension; Smoking; Atrial fibrillation; Cholesterol; & Diabetes.
iii.This global campaign highlights the signs of a stroke by remembering the acronym FAST: Face drooping, Arm weakness, speech difficulty and Time to call emergency services.
World Stroke Congress 2024 :
16th World Stroke Congress (WSC 2024) held from October 23-26, 2024 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates(UAE). It assemble the international stroke community to work together to reduce the burden of stroke by delivering improvements in prevention, treatment and recovery.
About Stroke:
i.A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when something blocks blood supply to part of the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts.
ii.It can cause lasting brain damage, long-term disability, or even death.
Types of stroke: There are 2 main types of stroke, ischemic and haemorrhagic.
- Ischemic strokes: They occur as a result of an obstruction in a blood vessel supplying blood to the brain.
- Hemorrhagic strokes: They happen when a weakened blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain.
Key Facts:
i.Stroke is the second leading cause of disability worldwide and each year over 12 million people have strokes. Up to 90% of strokes are preventable.
ii.Globally, women account for just over half (56%) of all persons who have experienced a stroke.
iii.Globally, there are over 77 million people currently living who have experienced ischaemic stroke.
- The global age-standardized incidence rate of ischemic stroke was projected to increase to 89.32 per 100,000 population in 2030.
iv.According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the bulk of the global stroke burden (86 per cent of deaths due to stroke and 89 per cent of Disability-adjusted life year(DALYs) occurs in lower and lower-middle-income countries.
Note: According to the Indian Council of Medical Research(ICMR) survey, three Indians suffer a stroke every minute.
About World Stroke Organisation (WSO):
President– Jeyaraj Pandian (India)
President-Elect– Craig Anderson(Australia)
Headquarters– Geneva, Switzerland
