Stroke is a major cause of disability and death globally that disproportionately affects people in low- and middle-income countries. Worldwide, stroke is the second leading cause of death and the third leading cause of disability.<\/p>\n
Around 70% of strokes occur in low- and middle-income countries, where the incidence of stroke has more than doubled over the last four decades, and where, on average, a stroke occurs to people 15 years earlier than it does in high-income countries.<\/p>\n
Up to 84% of stroke patients in low- and middle-income countries die within three years of diagnosis, as compared with 16% in high-income countries.<\/p>\n
For stroke survivors, lifelong sequelae and disabilities, including mental health problems, are common and can be a source of financial hardship.<\/p>\n
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To help achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of a one-third reduction in premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by 2030, WHO will continue to support countries in the South-East Asia Region to address the primary causes of stroke \u2013 including hypertension, diabetes and tobacco use \u2013 and will continue to promote the development of quality stroke services that are accessible to all.<\/p>\n
Countries in the Region have in recent years implemented a series of high-impact \u201cbest buys\u201d aimed at preventing stroke, in line with the Region\u2019s Flagship Priority on preventing and controlling NCDs.<\/p>\n
All countries are implementing multisectoral NCD action plans, with a specific focus on enhancing services to detect and treat NCDs at the primary level. Region-wide, tobacco control initiatives continue to be strengthened, with five Member States \u2013 namely, India, Nepal, Maldives, Thailand and Timor-Leste \u2013 among the world\u2019s top ten countries with the largest graphic warnings on tobacco packaging.<\/p>\n
WHO continues to work with countries in the region to promote healthy lifestyles, including greater physical activity, for which the strategies outlined in WHO\u2019s ACTIVE toolkit are of immense value.<\/p>\n
To advance progress on the Region\u2019s Flagship Priorities and applicable SDG targets, WHO will continue to support all countries to sustain and accelerate the implementation of interventions that prevent and control NCDs.<\/p>\n
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But as new regional guidance highlights, increased efforts are required to scale up the quality and reach of services that can deliver stroke care. Region-wide, countries have great potential to improve and streamline stroke services, for example by increasing the availability of CT scanners, enhancing health workers\u2019 knowledge and skills, implementing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, and adopting continuous quality improvement programs.<\/p>\n
Health services at all levels must have the capacity to provide fast-track referrals and coordinated emergency stroke care, in addition to ongoing support and rehabilitation for people living with stroke.<\/p>\n