Building a stronger stroke support organization voice in Latin America

23 Apr 2024 Stroke awareness Stroke support

Stroke support organizations from Latin America met to share their experiences and begin to build a network.

Stroke support organizations (SSOs) from Latin America are active members of the global SSO network. In this blog, we hear how these organizations are aiming to build the SSO network in Latin America. During the Global Stroke Alliance and SIECV Annual Meeting in Punta del Este, Uruguay at the end of 2023, Associação Brasil AVC organized the first Latin American Stroke Support Organization meeting.

During the meeting, Por Una Vida Libre de ACV Argentina, Associação Brasil AVC, and Agrupación Amigos de la Esperanza Chile, presented the work of their organizations. All are united by a common purpose to raise awareness of stroke, improve access to treatment and support stroke survivors and their families.

Carla Moro, from Associação Brasil AVC, highlighted the important role that SSOs have in raising awareness and providing support in communities. Associação Brasil AVC was founded in 2005, and is based in Joinville, Brasil. Carla presented Associação Brasil AVC’s education project for elementary and high schools, Stroke + Mathematics = Learned in Double Dose. She also shared news of an important collaboration between Brazilian stroke organizations on the recent policy document: Stroke: The Silent, Hidden Crisis Afflicting Our Society.

Maria Martha Esnaola, representing Por Una Vida Libre de ACV, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, explained that the organization was formed by stroke survivors, relatives, and health professionals. The organization’s activities started in 2020 and are focused on providing full and accurate information about stroke to the public and people affected by stroke. Also, Por Una Vida Libre de ACV are supporting implementation of a national law on stroke and working together with the Argentinian Neurological Society to develop educational materials for patients. Por Una Vida Libre de ACV Argentina won a World Stroke Campaign Award in 2021.

Also presenting at the meeting was Mónica Acevedo Leyton, from a Agrupación, Amigos de la Esperanza, based in Santiago, Chile. Mónica is the president of this SSO, which was formed in 2013. The organization was established by stroke survivors, their relatives and caregivers. They aim to improve education and knowledge about stroke.

Carla Moro says ‘This was a really positive meeting, sharing our crucial work as SSOs, and beginning to build our Latin American SSO network. One of the aims of this session was to start to bring together the Latin American initiatives to be a stronger stroke voice’.

The group plan to continue to network and exchange, and strengthen the role and work of SSOs in stroke awareness, advocacy and support in the region.