Words from the President, August 2023

08 Sep 2023

Dear colleagues,

I am thrilled to share the exciting news that we have successfully concluded the third edition of the Global Stroke Alliance, marking a significant milestone as the first-ever edition held outside of Latin America.

Here are some highlights from this remarkable event:

Participation: We had a remarkable turnout with 173 participants from 9 countries in Southeast Asia, along with the invaluable presence of 14 international speakers.
Distinguished Guests: Among our esteemed guests were representatives from the Ministers of Health in India, Myanmar, Maldives, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, and Nepal. Notably, we were honoured to host 2 Ministers of Health from India and a total of 29 health officials, including WHO representatives from the HQ and SEARO.
Neurointerventionalist Workshop: In addition to the Ministerial meeting, we organized a workshop for neurointerventionalists, which saw the active participation of 29 individuals and featured guidance from 5 international instructors.
Launch of the Global Declaration on Stroke: a document with 15 recommendations of evidence-based interventions that should be implemented in countries to decrease the impact of stroke. The document was signed by all participants with the commitment to use the document as a guide for implementation.

This meeting was undoubtedly a resounding success and a testament to our shared commitment to advancing stroke care globally. However, our journey is far from over.

The next crucial step is to develop concrete action plans for the countries that participated, outlining how we can collectively improve stroke care. To ensure these plans are effectively put into action, the WSO Implementation Task Force will oversee their implementation and monitor progress closely.

Together, we are making a significant impact on stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

A full report from the meeting will be included in the next newsletter.

Sincerely yours,

Sheila Martins
WSO President