Healthcare | Friday 30 October, 2015 5:07 am |

World stroke experts gathered today for the opening of the 3rd MENA Stroke Conference held in Dubai, UAE, looking forward to two days of debate and sharing of best practice.

Stroke is the second highest cause of death worldwide1 and a leading cause of disability – and the MENA region is no exception. Each year over 7,000 people suffer from a stroke in the UAE2, , at least 20 000 new strokes, 4000 deaths and 8000 disabilities occur each year across KSA3, and a massive 820,000 people in Egypt.4

“These figures are large now but the projections for the Middle East and North Africa suggest the rate of stroke will nearly double over the next 15 years,1” said Dr Omar Ayoub, Neurology Consultant and Assistant Professor, King Abdul Aziz University, KSA.

“So it’s vital that we address this major health problem now,” he added.

The conference features an update on the ‘MENA Stroke Initiative’ – a dedicated stroke program from the Emirates Neurology Society supported by Boehringer Ingelheim – that is being rolled out across the region, tackling the problem head on by making quicker, lifesaving treatment available to those affected.

 Karim El Alaoui, Managing Director of Boehringer Ingelheim, Middle East, Turkey and Africa (META) Boehringer Ingelheim said the aim of the initiative was to develop an integrated and sustainable healthcare system that ensures the delivery of comprehensive and excellent services to people experiencing a stroke.

“Over the last 12 months we have 19 sites enrolled in the initiative, which runs in four phases. First a site is established, then enters a progressing phase until it is ready for validation and auditing, and the final phase is certification – after which the stroke unit is up and running independently,” he said. “Our vision is to contribute towards a healthy, happy, and safe community.”

The sites are in the UAE, KSA, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon and Egypt with further expansion expected throughout 2016.

“The MENA Stroke Initiative is already starting to make a difference,” said Dr Suhail Al-Rukn, a stroke specialist at Rashid Hospital, Dubai Health Authority, and President of the Emirates Neurology Society.

“Providing access to specialist stroke units means people get the best treatment more quickly. We call this ‘the golden hour’ – a critical window to treat stroke victims. Not only does this save lives it can reduce the burden of disability that many stroke survivors experience,” he said.

Dr Al-Rukn urged people to learn how to spot that someone might be having a stroke so they can be quickly taken for treatment. “Remember FAST,” he said. “Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency services.”

Dr Ayoub said that the 3rd MENA Stroke Conference was incredibly valuable as it provided an opportunity for experts from across the region to meet and discuss strategies to combat stroke.

“With regular expert meetings, continued investment in the MENA Stroke Initiative, and activities to increase stroke awareness and prevention I believe it should be possible to slow the rising rate of stroke across the region,” he said.