“When Coronavirus hit Europe, Italy became the epicentre of the pandemic. As the country went into lockdown, many people feared travelling into hospitals, even in the case of a medical emergency”.
As the video starts explaining, Italy has one of the oldest populations of the world. Unfortunately, both Stroke and COVID-complication symptoms are most prevalent in this demographic. When the number of patients admitted for stroke was continuously and significantly lower that in previous times all over the word, the Angels Initiative wanted to act fast against the fear of going to hospitals.
Mrs. Ida’s husband did not hesitate in calling the emergency services as soon as he saw her collapsed in the bathroom, unable to communicate. She was sent to an emergency room in Perugia where she met stroke neurologist Dr. Valeria Caso. She was able to recover and remain independent soon after receiving treatment. These are the outcomes we need to strive for and maintain. For this to happen, as Dr. Caso says, everyone must trust that hospitals are a safe place - and understand that for #strokedontstayathome – even in pandemic times.
Stroke is a concerning example of how insufficient action to prevent and treat NCDs negatively impacts public health: over the last 20 years, stroke has become the second leading cause of disability and death worldwide, with 80 million stroke survivors 1.
When we were approached to be a part of the #TurningTheTide video series which aims to place a much-needed spotlight on the work of institutions to fight non-communicable diseases around the world, we couldn’t be more excited for the opportunity to highlight some of the great work and achievements the Angels Community has done for the benefit of stroke patients around the world.
Through this 5-minutes video, produced by BBC Story Works Commercial Productions, we would like to THANK YOU for dedicating your time and effort so that more stroke patients are able to return to life as they know it. Your work matters, and together we will turn the tide against stroke worldwide.
<1. GBD 2016 Diseases and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators, “Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990-2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016,” The Lancet, 2017; 390: 1211-59.
