Stroke In Jamaica
According to the latest WHO - World Health Organization data published in April 2014, Stroke Deaths for the year, in Jamaica reached 3,243 or 18.13% of total deaths. With the adjusted death rate at 115.44 persons for every 100, 000 people. This makes stroke the leading cause of death among Jamaicans and the leading cause of long term disability in adults on the island. These numbers also rank Jamaica at #63 worldwide, as a top 100 country where stroke is a detriment to Jamaicans.
Stroke is the number one killer of Jamaican women, killing twice as many women as cancer does each year. Stroke kills the second largest amount of Jamaican men. Stroke is the number one cause of permanent and long term disability, of working age Jamaican adults. Stroke is one of the major causes of poverty in many Jamaican families, where the main income earner suffered a stroke.
A stroke is a serious medical emergency because strokes can lead to death or permanent disability. Many Jamaicans have no clue what to do when a stroke hits, or even how to recognize a stroke. There are now opportunities to treat ischemic strokes, but that treatment needs to be started in the first few hours after the signs of a stroke begin. Westmoreland is not equipped for that. Jamaica is not ready.
When a stroke strikes, the patient, family, or bystanders, should call and activate emergency medical services immediately... Most areas, especially remote, rural communities have no access to emergency medical transport services. Go to the hospital, should a stroke be suspected. When you suspect a stroke and take the person to the hospital in Jamaica, these are the expected actions from a doctor's point of view.
Stroke victims sit and suffer in the ER for hours, because of apathy or lack of awareness. Stroke awareness education is badly needed by the community and the medical profession in Jamaica.
A search was done in November 2015 on the JIS website for Stroke Awareness information and these are the results of that search. As you can see...zip, nada, nothing on stroke. There are several stroke studies done by foreign professionals, paid for by foreign organizations, but there is no local stroke support. Information sharing on this Jamaican killer and disabler needs to be done locally. The Heart Foundation of Jamaica does a wonderful job, but though the focus is on cardiovascular health and support, most people still focus on the heart health, while ignoring stroke. Also, most services are not available to residents in deep, rural Westmoreland.
Yes, a healthy heart contributes to a healthy brain, but there must be a solid connection made through education and support, as people are not making the connection themselves.
Heart disease is the number two killer, with hypertension being number six. Decreasing the risks for both will definitely reduce stroke risks. However, since stroke directly kills and disables so many, a direct education and support outlet is needed to combact stroke and it's effects on the Jamaican population. The Milka Clarke Stroke Brain Trauma Foundation is ready to take on stroke in Westmoreland.
Stroke is the number one killer of Jamaican women, killing twice as many women as cancer does each year. Stroke kills the second largest amount of Jamaican men. Stroke is the number one cause of permanent and long term disability, of working age Jamaican adults. Stroke is one of the major causes of poverty in many Jamaican families, where the main income earner suffered a stroke.
A stroke is a serious medical emergency because strokes can lead to death or permanent disability. Many Jamaicans have no clue what to do when a stroke hits, or even how to recognize a stroke. There are now opportunities to treat ischemic strokes, but that treatment needs to be started in the first few hours after the signs of a stroke begin. Westmoreland is not equipped for that. Jamaica is not ready.
When a stroke strikes, the patient, family, or bystanders, should call and activate emergency medical services immediately... Most areas, especially remote, rural communities have no access to emergency medical transport services. Go to the hospital, should a stroke be suspected. When you suspect a stroke and take the person to the hospital in Jamaica, these are the expected actions from a doctor's point of view.
Stroke victims sit and suffer in the ER for hours, because of apathy or lack of awareness. Stroke awareness education is badly needed by the community and the medical profession in Jamaica.
A search was done in November 2015 on the JIS website for Stroke Awareness information and these are the results of that search. As you can see...zip, nada, nothing on stroke. There are several stroke studies done by foreign professionals, paid for by foreign organizations, but there is no local stroke support. Information sharing on this Jamaican killer and disabler needs to be done locally. The Heart Foundation of Jamaica does a wonderful job, but though the focus is on cardiovascular health and support, most people still focus on the heart health, while ignoring stroke. Also, most services are not available to residents in deep, rural Westmoreland.
Yes, a healthy heart contributes to a healthy brain, but there must be a solid connection made through education and support, as people are not making the connection themselves.
Heart disease is the number two killer, with hypertension being number six. Decreasing the risks for both will definitely reduce stroke risks. However, since stroke directly kills and disables so many, a direct education and support outlet is needed to combact stroke and it's effects on the Jamaican population. The Milka Clarke Stroke Brain Trauma Foundation is ready to take on stroke in Westmoreland.
During a stroke, 1.9 million neurons die every minute. The more time that passes without treatment, the more damage is done to the brain. Without proper emergency medical transport, too many never get medical support or get it too late. It is important to recognize the signs of a stroke, and get to the appropriate hospital for evaluation and treatment immediately. Not as soon as possible, because some people would never find it possible to make it. People will continue to die from stroke or become permanently disabled, if we do not provide stroke education and support to those who at this time, have no access to stroke information or community support.
Where you go for treatment will make a HUGE difference in your chance for survival.
Where you go for treatment will make a HUGE difference in your chance for survival.