Stroke… The disease that ‘kills’ 200,000 annually

The Federal Government has initiated
moves to prevent Nigerians from
developing stroke and other preventable
conditions by enrolling them for
screenings at a fee. But, can the project
fly? OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA and
WALE ADEPOJU report.
THe minister chose his words carefully.
May be because they carry a lot of
weight. Minister of Health Prof.
Onyebuchi Chukwu says the country is
expected to lose an estimated $8 billion
to non-communicable diseases. Chukwu
said the economic loss to the country
would emanate from expenditures by
Nigerians on stroke, heart disease and
diabetes-related illnesses estimated by
the World Health Organisation (WHO) to
be within the range of $400 million.
He spoke in Abuja at the World Stroke
Day celebration organised by the Nigeria
Stroke Assembly. He gave the mortality
rate of stroke as between 40 and 50 per
cent within the first three months of
diagnosis.
He had more shocking facts: "A facility-
based study showed that 39 per cent of
those who survived stroke after three
months died within 12 months and the
remaining 12 per cent developed severe
disability."
To curb this scary state of things, the
Federal Government has proposed the
National Stroke Prevention Programme.
He explained that the programme is
aimed at encouraging Nigerians to
routinely carry out medical check-ups as
well as change their lifestyles.
Cont. Reading http://thenationonlineng.net/new/stroke-disease-kills-200000-annually/