HMC concludes World Stroke Day awareness campaign
Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) concluded its annual World Stroke Day awareness campaign, which ran from October 29 to November 2.Aligned with the global theme 'Let’s Get Active Every Day to Be Greater Than Stroke,' the campaign focused on educating the public about stroke prevention, early recognition, and the importance of specialised care.The initiative featured a series of interactive events, exhibitions, and public outreach activities at key HMC facilities including Hamad General Hospital, Al Khor Hospital, Aisha Bint Hamad Al Attiya Hospital, Hazm Mebaireek General Hospital and Al Wakra Hospital and popular public venues across Qatar.The campaign aimed to highlight the significant public health threat posed by stroke, which remains the second leading cause of death worldwide and the third leading cause of disability.This year’s campaign introduced an updated mnemonic for stroke recognition, expanding the well-known FAST acronym (Face dropping, Arm weakness, Speech problems/Slurred speech, Time ticking) to BE FAST, with the inclusion of Balance (sudden loss of Balance and Eyes (sudden loss of vision), to encourage and educate people to understand the importance of stroke signs and symptoms and get an early diagnosis and treatment.“World Stroke Day is a critical opportunity for us to reinforce the message that stroke is preventable and treatable. Our aim was to engage the community, raise awareness, and provide essential information on how to recognise the early signs of a stroke,” said Dr Ahmed Own, director of the Neuroscience Institute at HMC.The campaign activities were spread across several HMC hospitals, where dedicated booths were set up to provide information and resources about stroke. Visitors were encouraged to learn about the risk factors associated with stroke, including high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, smoking, and physical inactivity.The public awareness activities at Villaggio and LuLu malls, featured interactive exhibits, health screenings, and educational materials aimed at empowering individuals to take control of their health and reduce their risk of stroke.One of the campaign’s main messages was that nearly 90% of strokes are preventable by addressing lifestyle factors. HMC urged the public to adopt healthy habits such as regular exercise, balanced diets, and quitting smoking to significantly reduce their risk of stroke.