At least twelve point two million(12.2million ) people world wide have been diagnosed to experience a stroke this year.
A Professor of Neurology at the Faculty of Medicine , University of Ilorin, Kolawole Wahab made the disclosure in his 230th Inaugural lecture held at the University Auditorium in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.
He said out of the total number of those affected by stroke this year , six point five million(6.5million) people will not survive the attacks.
According to him, one hundred and ten million (110 million) people world wide who had experienced stroke now live with impacts that includes severe physical disability and communication difficulties among others.
Professor Wahab explained that stroke is a significant cause of death and disability world wide, adding that the situation in Nigeria is not different.
He noted that eighty percent (80 percent) of all stroke has been projected by the World Health Organization (WHO) to occur in developing countries of the world due to the adoption of Western lifestyle, and transition from infectious to non-infectious diseases.
Professor Wahab urged the Federal government to adequately equip the nation’s tertiary hospitals to deliver quality service to those in need.
The medical expert called for aggressive surveillance and monitoring of stroke patients in hospital to prevent development of complications.
He also advised relevant government agencies to assist in the establishment of centres of excellence in stroke care across the six geopolitical zones in the country.
COV/ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU
