(Dallas) Oct. 22, 2014 – The American Heart Association/American Stroke Association joins the World Stroke Organization in acknowledging the Global Stroke Bill of Rights, launched today at the 9th World Stroke Congress in Istanbul, Turkey.
Every other second, someone in the world has a stroke. Many survivors and caregivers are unable to access the treatments, rehabilitation and support they need, according to the World Stroke Organization.
The Global Stroke Bill of Rights is intended to help people to communicate with stroke care providers, lawmakers and government agencies, about the aspects of care that are most important to stroke survivors and in reducing disability and death from stroke.
“Now, it is time that all stroke patients and caregivers around the world have their own Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights forms the basis to ensure that every patient has access to all elements of appropriate stroke care, to optimize their best chance of survival and recovery,” said Stephen Davis, M.D., president of the World Stroke Organization.
The Bill of Rights was developed by a group of stroke survivors and caregivers from each region of the world. Thousands of stroke survivors and caregivers from different countries, cultures and languages, completed surveys which revealed that stroke support needs are consistent regardless of geography.
Three primary rights are outlined in the new document for stroke survivors:
1. The right to receive the best stroke care.
2. The right to be informed and prepared.
3. The right to be supported in recovery.
“We’re proud to stand with the World Stroke Organization and highlight the need for stroke survivors and caregivers to receive the best prevention, treatment, and recovery resources available in the world,” said Mary Ann Bauman, M.D., chairman of the American Stroke Association Advisory Committee.
In the United States, 795,000 people have a stroke each year – about one every 40 seconds. For more information visit StrokeAssociation.org.
About the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association
The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke — America’s No. 4 killer and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent, treat and beat stroke. The Dallas-based association was created in 1997 as a division of the American Heart Association.
About the World Stroke Organization
The World Stroke Organization (WSO) was established in October 2006. WSO’s mission is to reduce the global burden of stroke through prevention, treatment and long-term care. As the lead international body for stroke, WSO aims to accomplish its mission by: Fostering the best standards of practice; Increasing stroke awareness among the population and among health professionals; Preventing subtle cerebrovascular disease leading to gait disorders, imbalance, vascular cognitive impairment, and behavioral changes; Influencing policies for stroke prevention and improved health services; Providing education in collaboration with public and private organizations; Facilitating stroke research advocacy for people with stroke; Fostering the development of systems and organizations for long-term care and support of stroke survivors and their families. With individual and organizational members worldwide, including stroke support groups, WSO is the global voice for stroke. WSO is the only international stroke NGO in official relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). Prof. Stephen Davis, MD, FRCP, Edin FRACP, from Melbourne, Australia, is the president of the World Stroke Organization.