Stroke has become one of the leading causes of death worldwide. According to the World Stroke Organization, around 6.5 million people die every year from stroke. Cases in the country are also on the rise, but awareness of the disease is low in the country and services are also limited. This will now change thanks to the newly opened Wellness Center in Thimphu that was launched today coinciding with World Stroke Day.
The non-medical rehab Center, located at Motithang will provide a number of services including physiotherapy, counselling, meditation and yoga.
The wellness center which has been opened by the Bhutan Stroke Foundation aims at helping stroke survivors with their recovery.
“Even I did not hear about stroke before and after one gets a stroke, there isn’t any specific treatment for it or much that can be done. The main struggle arises at home when you’re trying to recover,” said Dawa Tshering, the founder of the Bhutan Stroke Foundation.
According to health experts, an increasing number of people in the country get strokes due to the prevalence of lifestyle diseases such as hypertension, lung diseases, diabetes, and obesity.
“The importance of this is to create awareness in each and everyone that stroke is definitely preventable. And all the risk factors are easily identified and we can prevent stroke,” said Dr Tashi Tenzin, a Consultant Neurosurgeon at the JDWNRH.
The acronym FAST is normally used to identify the symptoms of a stroke. F stands for facial drooping or weakness, A for Arm weakness, S for Speech trouble and T for time.
Almost 40 new stroke cases are reported at the national referral hospital every month.
Devika Pradhan
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
