National Stroke Care Institute to be set up

Ridma Dissanayake

The government will establish a National Stroke Care Institute in Colombo affiliated to the Mulleriyawa Base Hospital to provide treatment for stroke patients and to help persons affected by semi paralysis, using all modern technology, Health Minister Maitripala Sirisena said.

Minister Sirisena was addressing the programme which was held to mark the World Stroke Day-2012 at the Sri Lanka Medical Association on Monday.

The government is to spend Rs.400 million on this project which will have all facilities, including an Intensive Care Unit (ICU),CT Scan "Center and MRI facilities.The government has also decided to establish Stroke Care Units at main hospitals in the country. They have already established these units in a few main hospitals, including at Colombo and Kurunegala, "he added.

"Around 50 persons die due to the stroke daily . Stroke is one of the leading Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) which can be treated and prevented. In a such situation, it is a tragedy to see such a large number of persons being affected by stroke. Neglect and lack of education are one of the main reasons for the cause of these deaths,"the minister said.

"The Health Ministry has planned to hold awareness programmes along with the Education Ministry to make school children and the public aware of health issues, including NCDs.

"Discussions regarding these programmes will be held between the Secretaries of the Health Ministry, Education Ministry and the National Awareness Programme on Health Issues in the near future," he further said.

The plan of the National Stroke Care Institute had been handed over to Minister Sirisena at the same programme by Primary Health Care Institute Director Dr.Anil Dissanayake. A book named "Stroke Care" written by Neuro Surgeon Dr.Padma Gunaratne ceremonially launched at this programme was presented to President Mahinda Rajapaksal. This book has written in all three languages.