Life Report :
Speakers at a roundtable discussion on Saturday said stroke is treatable. There is a treatment called rt-PA therapy. This medicine is now available in Bangladesh. People have lack of knowledge to identify stroke and heart disease. If stroke occurs the patients need to take to stroke centre not other hospital which causes delay to start his treatment.
They pointed out lack of awareness, delay to reach the patient to hospital and delay in recognition of stroke symptoms and delay in door to needle time (DNT) as the major causes of death of stroke patients.
Daily ‘Bangladesh Post’ and Impulse Hospitals Dhaka jointly organized the roundtable meeting styled “Stroke: Mass Awareness & Immediate Treatment” at the seminar hall of Impulse Hospital, Tejgaon in the capital.
Begum Kamrun Nahar, Principal Information Officer (PIO), Abul Kalam Azad, Director General (DG), Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) attended the roundtable as designated discussants. While addressing Begum Kamrun Nahar, Chief Information Officer of Press Information Department said, prevention is still remaining in dark side. We have to work on healthy living. She suggested starting campaign with preventive sides. Media has vast coverage in the country, she said to take advantage of 1966 print media, 378 iptv, 29 on air television, 85 foreign televisions, 12 FM stations, 28 community radio and others to spread the awareness across the country.
She also urges the director general of health to use his 64 districts civil surgeon to this regard.
Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, director general of health service said, we collect data from all government hospital of the country and what we come to know is most of the patient that died is due to stroke. Modern treatment is available which is good news but we have to think how can we take this treatment to common people’s door steps.
About high price of medicine he said, once in the country heart ring was too expensive but now a days it has come to a reasonable level which can be afforded by all. May be in the coming days we will be able to bring stoke price under common people reach.
About awareness building the director general said, we have a digital platform which number is 16263 through which we provide prescription of Tk 3 crore each year. I will use this helpline to provide stroke awareness.
Speakers said stroke is the second leading cause of death and most common cause of adult disability globally. The incidence of stroke is increasing in the developing world. It is a medical emergency where every minute counts and it is estimated that 2 million brain cell die in every minute.
Editor of daily ‘Bangladesh Post’, Sharif Shahab Uddin presided over the roundtable meeting while Managing Director of Impulse Hospital Dhaka, renowned ENT Specialist of the country, Prof Dr Zaheer Al-Amin delivered address of welcome.
Senior Consultant, Impulse Hospital, and Associate Professor, Department of Neuro medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) presented the keynote paper on the occasion on the stroke management, its treatment and awareness issues.
Chief Medical Officer of MilVik in partnership with Robi Axiata Dr Anwarul Mamun Ex Pro-VC, BSMMU Prof. Anisul Haque, Advisory Editor, Bangladesh Post Shahnoor Wahid, COO, Impulse Hospital Dr Dabir Uddin Ahmed, Communication Specialist, ICT Division Ajit Kumar Sarker also took part in open discussion in the roundtable meeting.
Laying importance on urgent and timely treatment for stroke, Dr Md. Shahidullah Sabuj in his paper said some 1.9 million neurons die every minute after stroke.
He said Acute treatment has two options – Medical Therapies and Revascularization and needs urgent measures because what he said is ‘Time is Brain’.
He said stroke is a disease of brain and also a medical emergency. Stroke occurs when there is loss of blood and oxygen to a part of brain. FAST symptoms can indentify stroke.
F for Facial drooping: A section of the face, usually only on one side, that is drooping and hard to move.
A for Arm weakness: The inability to raise one’s arm fully.
S for Speech difficulties: An inability or difficulty to understand or produce speech. T stands for Time: If any of the symptoms above are showing, time is of the essence; call the emergency services or goes to the hospital.
“Stroke is a major cause of disability and death worldwide. In 2015, the latest Lancet report shows, cerebrovascular disease or stroke remains the leading cause of all deaths in Bangladesh, followed by ischemic heart disease”, he mentioned.
He observed that treatment is given for limiting cellular injury, reperfusion, reventing systemic complications, and preventing neurologic complications. Rehabilitation is given for limiting cellular Injury. Medication is essential for blood thinner, cholesterol reduction and blood pressure control.
Replying a query about treatment, keynote speaker said thrombolysis and Thrombectomy mentioning that only 5-8.5 percent of stroke patients get the opportunity to receive this therapy.
