Monday, June 25, 2018

Stroke Foundation Uganda, a new WSO member, gives hope to stroke survivors and their families


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Ibrahim Bukenya is the founder and principal physiotherapist at the Stroke Rehabilitation Center, home to the Stroke Foundation Uganda, in Kampala. 

What has inspired you to be involved in stroke support?
The inspiration was when I had a challenge in taking care of a mother who had a stroke and later passed away and the fact that I had worked with the Stroke Rehabilitation Center for the last 8 years by then. There were challenges other stroke survivors were going through and Uganda’s burden of stroke is increasing every day. I want to help prevent people from going through this challenging condition, to minimise adult disability caused by stroke and to have a stroke free Uganda.

What does stroke support look like in your country?
Stroke support in Uganda is mainly about stroke survivors coming together and encouraging each other to reach a common goal which is recovery and to go back to work. The Stroke Rehabilitation Center helps the survivors who cannot afford the rehabilitation costs. Our stroke support groups have volunteers who go to visit the survivors to encourage them. The stroke support group organises the World Stroke Day event with different activities to help increase awareness.

How did the project come about?
The project came about after realising the challenges the stroke survivors go through and the       national stroke burden.                                                                                                                                                          
What have been some of the outcomes of the project?
About 2% of stroke survivors have recovered to 90% and gone back to work.
Stroke survivors who have attended stroke support groups and rehabilitation treatments are promoting our name across the country, thanking and talking good about giving them hope again and families have been saved from tearing apart due to the counselling given to both care givers and survivors.

What has been the response from others- community, doctor’s politicians?
In the community the mindset about stroke has changed from the witchcraft perspective to rehabilitation and seeking early treatment from hospitals rather than traditional healers.
Doctors are increasingly understanding how important rehabilitation is to the survivors and we are already collaborating with some of them from the primary health facilities, however, other doctors still think negatively that rehabilitation treatment is competition to their work.
Politicians are getting to understand rehabilitation treatment through the parliamentary health weeks and through their relatives that have attended the support groups.

Stroke can attack any one at any time affecting the economic viability of someone, therefore stroke awareness prevention should be taken so seriously by knowing the risk factors for stroke, the signs and symptoms and in case someone gets a stroke to rush the person to the nearest hospital.

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