WSO and members raise the profile of stroke at the Global NCD Alliance Forum

20 Feb 2025 Stroke awareness

The Global NCD Alliance Forum in Kigali, Rwanda focused on uniting civil society to accelerate noncommunicable disease (NCD) advocacy ahead of the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs. WSO President, Dr Jeyaraj Pandian and Executive Director, Mia Grupper attended the forum. They were joined by stroke support organization advocates, Michael Uchunor, founder of the Michael and Francisca Foundation in Nigeria and Joseph Rukelibuga, founder of Stroke Action Rwanda.

‘The meeting featured insightful remarks from leaders, including people with lived experience. We heard how several countries have made significant strides in NCD prevention and there is a clear sign of momentum. However, despite being the second leading cause of death and a major driver of disability, stroke treatment and rehabilitation remain virtually non-existent in many countries. The impact on patients, families, and society is devastating, but there is room for change’, reflected Mia Grupper.

Mr Uchunor and Mr Rukelibuga attended the Our Views, Our Voices pre-conference, an initiative of the NCD Alliance that promotes the meaningful involvement of people living with NCDs.

‘Co-designed with the Our Views, Our Voices Global Advisory Committee, this was an important opportunity for us to showcase the initiative’s work and impact, and celebrate the contributions of people with lived experience’ said Mr Rukelibuga.

In the pre-conference Mr Uchunor shared his reflections on how his lived experience has influenced his leadership in NCD advocacy, ‘As a stroke survivor, I have lived through the realities of Nigeria’s healthcare system—misdiagnosis, limited access to care, stigma, and financial burdens. These challenges ignited my passion for advocacy, compelling me to fight for better policies, increased healthcare access, and greater awareness of NCDs’.

The forum was an opportunity for WSO and its members to meet with policy makers. Following a meeting with Mr Rukelibuga, Dr Pandian and Dr. Francois Uwinkindi, Division Manager at the Rwandan Ministry of Health, Mia Grupper said, ‘We know what works and the transformative impact any action can have, not just on lives but also on economies. WSO eagerly anticipates collaborating with Ministries of Health and other partners, including people with lived experience, in Africa to enhance stroke services and save lives’.

Mr Rukelibuga also shared his insights in the session Meeting communities where they are at: experiences from South Africa and Rwanda, ‘My insights and experiences of peer support groups using a digital application called Je m’entraine, were instrumental in highlighting how technology and community engagement can enhance education, self-management, and quality of life for individuals with NCDs, including stroke, in low-resource settings’.

The forum underlined to WSO and its members that now is the moment to seize the opportunity to work together to bridge the gap in prevention and care. WSO will advocate