The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) in collaboration with its strategic partners, successfully organized a two-day stroke awareness event held across all of the Ministry's hospitals and in select shopping malls. The event, which was held in line with the celebration of ‘World Stroke Day’ under the theme ‘Every second is of value,’ was aimed towards raising awareness of the stroke symptoms, methods of prevention and highlighting the latest medical developments for stroke patients. According to recent reports, strokes have been identified as the primary cause of death in the UAE, while up to 50 per cent of these cases can be prevented.
H.E. Yousif Mohammed Al Serkal, Assistant Undersecretary for the Hospital Sector, MOHAP and President of the Executive Committee of National Indicators of Cardiovascular Diseases, said, “The Ministry is working closely with its strategic partners to develop stroke prevention and treatment programs aiming at reducing mortality rates, disability and complications of strokes, in addition to eliminating the length of stay in hospitals--falling in line with its efforts to reduce the number of deaths from cardiovascular diseases and in accordance with the objectives of UAE Vision 2021. The Ministry is set to launch many initiatives and activities that aim to reduce the mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases by up to 25 per cent by 2025.”
Al Serkal pointed out that MOHAP adopted Virtual Rehabilitation (VR) Technology in Physiotherapy for Stroke Patients, which falls under the efforts to incorporate 100 per cent artificial intelligence (AI) into medical services. The Virtual Reality System evaluates and enhances the locomotor performance of the upper limbs affected by the stroke, referring to the locomotor training system to post-stroke rehabilitation to enable patients for appropriate walking, with the change of the virtual environments being displayed on the front screen to simulate daily activities.
Dr. Kalthoum Al Balushi, Director of the Hospitals Department, MOHAP, said, “The objective of the awareness event is to promote health awareness about strokes, understand their potential risks, how to prevent them and how to identify the available diagnostic methods and treatments. While stroke does not differentiate between men and women, women are more at risk of stroke than men. The stroke is also the primary and leading case of paralysis worldwide.”
Al Balushi stressed that the Ministry is keen on implementing the best treatment programs, protocols and develop clinical practices, in addition to provide the necessary training to help support healthcare professionals.
Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and severe disability in the region, due to the delay in patients’ access to specialized healthcare services. The atrial fibrillation is one of the most common sustainable causes of arrhythmias, as blood can accumulate in the upper heart chamber (atria), which in turn leads to the formation of blood clots .In the event of a blood clot, this clot can come out of the heart and move to the brain to block blood flow and cause a stroke. Major findings indicate that there is still a lack of public awareness among the population about identifying strokes and access to specialized treatment centres, with a growing need for more educational efforts on the specials care for stroke patients.