Every month, the Nausori Health Centre reports about 14 stroke cases, of which 31 per cent were reported at the Wanibokasi Hospital.

This was revealed by Dr Alofa Vunaki a senior medical officer for special outpatient department at the Nausori Health Centre.

Dr Vunaki said there were 41,285 people living in the Rewa Sub-Division, and from that number, 2336 stroke cases had been reported to the special outpatient department.

Stroke affects about two per cent of patients who visit the Nausori Health Centre’s special outpatient department.

74 per cent of stroke patients were men.

“We have had almost 40 per cent of stroke cases admitted at the Wanibokasi Hospital in the past six months,” Dr Vunaki said.

Speaking at the World Stroke Day yesterday in Nausori, Counterstroke president Elizabeth Fong said Fiji had seen rising incidences of stroke over the past four decades, indicating that more action was needed to reduce the risk of stroke.

With the theme ‘Together we are better than stroke.’ Counterstroke was set up in 1988 as a response to the increase in numbers of stroke persons, and has membership of 20.

Ms Fong said their programme was about education and awareness, prevention of stroke and giving advice to stroke patients.

Background 

A stroke happens when the blood supply to some part of the brain is cut off. It can affect speech, eyesight, memory, balance, walking and bladder control.

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