Participants at the 2012 Nigeria Stroke Assembly have called on various tiers of government to develop a sustainable response to deal with the increasing cases and burden of stroke in Nigeria.
They also enjoined the Federal Government to assemble experts, stroke survivors and opinion leaders to help with the formulation of the policy.
The policy, according to participants, should provide an evidence-based stroke care pathway to facilitate a holistic approach to stroke from prevention and treatment of stroke to rehabilitation of stroke survivors and to necessary support to the families and care givers of survivors.
Speaking at the assembly, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Stroke Action Nigeria, Rita Melifonwu, attributed the plight of stroke survivors and their care givers to the absence of a national policy on stroke in the country.
Meanwhile, Experts have raised the alarm that stroke is more prevalent in men than women.
This was made known on Monday on the occasion of the World Stroke Day, organised by the Nigerian Stroke Assembly and the Stroke Action Nigeria in Abuja.
Speaking on the occasion, a consultant neurosurgeon, Dr Biodun Ogungbo, said men from the age of 50 easily have stroke than women. He also added that older women die more from stroke than men in black race.
He attributed the causes of stroke to obesity, excessive intake of alcohol and smoking, adding that it could be controlled if the above were avoided. He also hinted that Nigerians should exercise regularly to ease stress.
Also speaking, Dr Charles Cudjoe said that the easiest way to prevent stroke was through stress management, adding that “stroke is a brain attack and demands urgent action.”
He equally said that stroke was on the increase in Nigeria, and he urged the Federal Government to embark on a sensitisation programme to reduce cases of stroke.
Mrs Rita Melifonwu, a United Kingdom-based stroke specialist, urged the government to create centres which would take care of stroke patients as applicable in the United Kingdom.
Major stroke factors highlighted included hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, cigarette smoking, lack of exercise, obesity, excessive intake of alcohol and birth control pills.
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