Bringing global perspectives and sharing regional stroke experience and was the focus of the WSO Regional Asia Pacific meeting in Manila, Philippines. The WSO Regional Meeting followed on from the APSO regional Congress and included plenary sessions from President Michael Brainin, immediate Past President Werner Hacke, Vice President Jeyaraj Pandian and International Journal of Stroke Editor Geoff Donnan. The scientific program covered latest analysis of the Global Burden of Disease and clear need for multi-lateral stroke strategies to reverse the global stroke pandemic, the potential for thrombolysis and thrombectomy in the Asia Pacific context and key developments in imaging and their potential in LMICs.
The first ever WSO Angels Awards were presented and a busy press conference that aimed to highlight key stroke prevention and treatment issues in the Philippines was held with input from President Michael Brainin and immediate Past President Werner Hacke and Dr Navarro of the Philippines Stroke Society.
Manila also fired the starting gun on the countdown to World Stroke Day when around 1000 participants took to the streets for the Run for Stroke event on October 6th. The event highlighted the prevention message of the World Stroke Day ‘Don’t Be The One’ campaign, with a specific focus on the role of exercise in prevention. WSO Secretary Pooja Khatri participated in the run and handed awards to race winners.