Raising public awareness of stroke symptoms and healthy lifestyles in the Seychelles

16 Jun 2021 Stroke awareness

Noëmie Woodcock, chair of the Seychelles Stroke Foundation, talks with us about the work of the organisation to raise stroke awareness and reduce the impact of stroke on the Seychellois community.

The Seychelles Stroke Foundation (SSF) was officially launched in February 2018. The purpose of the Foundation is to work with stroke survivors and their families, carers, health professionals, the Seychelles government and the public, in order to prevent and reduce the impact of stroke on the Seychellois community. The Foundation works closely with the Ministry of Health. Our mission is to improve the health of Seychellois through education, which can potentially prevent strokes or assist in early detection and help reduce disability.

During 2020, we set up stroke awareness posters on five buses in the country, this included four on the main island of Mahé and one on the island of Praslin. The posters included the F.A.S.T. warning signs. Banners were also set up at various prime locations across Mahé which were guaranteed to reach a broad audience of both pedestrians and motorists. Our information includes promotion of the benefits of physical health and healthy eating in reducing the risk of a stroke.

In order for the SSF to accomplish its work, we rely on the support of our members and donations from the public and companies. All donations go towards projects designed to reduce the occurrence of stroke and assist survivors and their families. A Seychellois individual, Joel Melanie, began a personal project 'Run for a Good Cause' which supports associations by completing various runs and raising funds. This year he chose to collaborate with the SSF and assist in raising funds, this is a fantastic initiative for us as it also promotes the benefits of exercise.

Throughout 2020, in line with the COVID-19 guidelines, we visited stroke survivors and their families, discussing their lives, the impact of stroke and provided them with hampers of healthy food items. Our aim was to establish a connection with the stroke survivors and their families.

It has been a challenging time for many people across the world, including Seychelles, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this, as a Foundation we strive to keep raising awareness of stroke within our country and its warning signs and supporting individuals and families affected by this disease.

For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/SeychellesStrokeFoundation/