Kathmandu [Nepal], October 29 – More than 50,000 people suffer strokes in Nepal every year with one person experiencing a stroke every 10 minutes according to the outgoing president of the Nepal Stroke Association, Dr Raju Poudel.
Poudel shared the figures with the state-run Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) on Wednesday marking World Stroke Day observed under the slogan “Every Minute Counts”.
He said stroke occurs when blood circulation to part of the brain is blocked depriving brain cells of oxygen and nutrients.
Poudel stressed the need for greater government attention to stroke prevention noting that around 15-20 percent of stroke patients in Nepal die from the condition. He said approximately one-third of stroke patients worldwide die while one in four people faces a risk of stroke during their lifetime.
High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity and an unbalanced diet are among the major risk factors, he said.
The Nepal Stroke Association was established in 2017 to assess the country’s stroke situation and promote better treatment. It has been working with University Hospital Heidelberg in Germany and collaborating with the German development agency GIZ and the World Health Organization on stroke-related initiatives.
Around 12 million people worldwide suffer strokes annually, Poudel said highlighting the need for timely attention particularly in developing countries such as Nepal.
