World Stroke Organization
members, the Finnish Brain Association, have been recognized with a highly
prized national award for their ‘Priceless Processor’ blood pressure campaign. The Association’s campaign was developed to address low awareness among the Finnish population that
high blood pressure can have effects on the brain, not just the heart.
Encouraging
people to protect their ‘Priceless Processor’, the Association set up over 250 ‘pop-up’
blood pressure monitoring stations across the country. The campaign worked in partnership
with occupational health centres and pharmacies to offer blood pressure
monitoring and information to the public. Social media, TV, radio
and press were all used to share information about the link between heart and brain, and to encourage people to take action to monitor and control their blood
pressure.
The Brain Association beat
off stiff competition to receive the accolade at the country’s annual Foresight
Forum. Fifty nominations were assessed for the HEALTH ACT and HEALTH INNOVATION
awards. The jury consisted of a diverse range of health professionals and selected the 'Priceless Processor' campaign for the HEALTH
ACT award because, ”increasing awareness of the connection
between brain health and elevated blood pressure was a noteworthy insight.
Self-monitoring is part of future health care, and making it more widely
adopted among citizens is essential in the prevention of serious health issues.”
The World Stroke Organization couldn’t agree more.
Onneski olkoon!
