Abstract
Every other second someone suffers a stroke and every sixth second someone dies because of stroke. Every year more people die from stroke than because of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria put together. Stroke differs from acute myocardial infarction in that it is not enough to just count the deaths. The other major catastrophe incurred by stroke is the fact that it is the leading cause of serious disability, sparing no age, gender, ethnic origin or country (1), and today 80% of all stroke victims live in the developing world.
The next stroke victim could be you or your beloved one. What could you do to prevent it? As physicians we have been trained to find and treat patients with high risk factors. However, only 15% of all strokes occur in this group while majority of strokes occur in people with low or moderate level risk factors (2). Accordingly, if we truly want to reduce the burden of stroke we should do our very best not only to treat patients we meet in clinical practice but also to regionally and locally distribute information about stroke risk factors and educate people on how to have a healthier lifestyle. The fact that stroke can be prevented and is recoverable should be highlight in these campaigns. Stroke incidence rates exceed in low- and middle-income countries those of high-income countries (3). In these countries the likelihood of optimal stroke prevention, acute care and rehabilitation are not available for a large part of population. A major reduction in the burden of stroke can only be achieved by providing better public education. Health information to lay people (e.g. healthier lifestyle, risk factors, stroke symptoms, and emergency response) is available in industrialized countries. The true challenge is how to provide health information in resource-poor countries (4).
World Stroke Day (WSD), one of the projects of the World Stroke Organization (WSO), is a call to arms to fight against stroke. It all started in 2004 in Vancouver, Canada at the World Stroke Congress, however, even before that a Working Group chaired by Dr. Vladimir Hachinski (Canada) had made preliminary work. Ever since Dr. Hachinski and the working group have continued their work keeping in mind that one day we will celebrate triumph over stroke. This day is not near but with a clear vision and devoted people ready to work hard, the burden of stroke can be reduced. After having been elected as the President of the World Federation of Neurology in 2009, Dr. Hachinski turned the Chairmanship over to Dr. Markku Kaste (Finland). The other members of the Working Group are Erin Lalor, Australia; Jose Larracoechea, Spain; Bo Norrving, Sweden, the President of the WSO; Jeyaraj Pandian, India; Wendy Segrest, USA; Cléa Estruch, Switzerland; and JJ Divino, Switzerland. The WSD Working Group of the WSO continues on the path opened by Dr. Hachinski.
Although the WSD Working Group does not have a long history, it has already launched successful projects. The Theme for 2009 was ‘Stroke, what can I do?’ and among the many projects, a worldwide competition related to the theme. 57 countries and regions from all over the world took part in the competition. The winners were selected based on their project's reach, innovation and message. All the competing countries were so good, and the differences between them so small, that the jury found it difficult to declare only three medal winners and two honourable mentions. These awards will be presented in Seoul, South-Korea at the World Stroke Congress October 2010. The winners are Gold: Sri Lanka, Silver: Brazil, Bronze: Italy. Two honourable mentions are given to Guntur, India and Mumbai, India. However, a new competition for 2010 is open and those who did not win last year have a new opportunity with only a few weeks to go! Instructions can be found at the WSO website at www.world-stroke.org and at the World Stroke Campaign website at http://www2.kenes.com/wsd2010/pages/home.aspx.
Activities of 2010 also include a competition for a universal symbol for the WSD, which will be additional to the WSO logo. The competition is open to everyone. Another ongoing project is to recruit goodwill ambassadors for the WSD. The Tour de France three-time winner Alberto Contador is the first of them but a search for more goodwill ambassadors is ongoing. We invite you to suggest your preferred candidates to the WSD Working Group. We are looking for high profile people around the world who are willing to use their visibility to reduce the burden of stroke.
The theme for 2010 ‘One in Six: Act Now!’ underlines again that 1 in 6 people worldwide will suffer a stroke in their lifetime, and it could be you! However, one day per year is not enough for a campaign to be effective, we have to fight against stroke 365 days per year. Therefore, the World Stroke Organization will launch a two-year stroke campaign at the next World Stroke Congress in Seoul. To make a difference, the WSD Working Group encourages anyone to serve as a stroke champion in their own city, rural area or regionally and make the public aware one in six people suffers from stroke, evidence-based solutions exist to prevent stroke, stroke unit care should be available for anyone suffering a stroke, and so should rehabilitation and long term strategies to identify and manage post stroke disabilities. We can improve the quality of life for stroke survivors and their caregivers. To raise the awareness of professionals, the public, and decision makers is the first step to action. Just look in the mirror and you will see who is responsible for it.