Establishing a National Stroke Registry (NSR) to help in the improvement of quality of care delivery to stroke patients in Ghana is very crucial
Establishing a National Stroke Registry (NSR) to help in the improvement of quality of care delivery to stroke patients in Ghana is very crucial
Stroke is among the major causes of death and disability in Ghana. Stroke is currently one of the top five causes of deaths in Ghana and a major cause of disability (CDC Global Ghana). Stroke and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) disease contribute more than ≤ 19.5 % of the total 43% (94,000) of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) deaths recorded annually in Ghana. Ghana must therefore institute measures in order to improve the quality of care delivery to stroke patients in the country. It’s very crucial to establish a national stroke registry now if the country is focus to win the battle against stroke and reduce the burden associated with it. There is an urgent need for surveillance on stroke to collect and analyze data on the scale of burden of stroke in the country. A stroke registry if established will collect detailed information about stroke patients and assess their progress with respect to the kind of treatment they are receiving and to identify the gaps that hinders quality of stroke delivery to persons living with/affected stroke and their carers in Ghana.
The registry will provide information on the epidemiology of stroke, diagnosis, management, prevention strategies,etc. (Tanne et al.). Analyzed data collected could be shared to better inform policy makers on a comprehensive stroke prevention and treatment plan for the country. The data collected may also be use to identify groups of people who are getting stroke within specific regions in the country where the incidence might be either increasing or decreasing to ascertain the cause of stroke among the population in that region.
Researchers and Stroke Health Professional could easily have access and use the information collected in their work to address problems which may be identified.
There is an urgent need to establish a national stroke registry in Ghana as accurate data sources are inaccessible or not available.
The national Stroke Registry for Ghana will be use to collect, store and analyze data on persons with/affected stroke in order to generate an accurate incidence, prevalence, trends, mortality, post stroke discharge feedbacks , rehabilitation, recovery where these information could serve as an accurate source of information in developing a comprehensive Stroke guideline and treatment plan for Ghana .Data at the registry could also be used to evaluate the impact of prevention, early treatment and post discharge programs (Life After Stroke Programs) in the country.
.The Registry core function would be, to capture stroke cases diagnosed and treatment within Ghana, to facilitate and inform policy makers in the processes of developing a stroke policy and evaluation program guideline for an effective treatment, care and support for persons affected with strokes which will be line with the World Stroke Organization (WSO) global stroke services guideline and action plan. Ghana must learn from other countries implemented best stroke services practices in order to better improve the quality of care delivery to stroke patients in the country.
It’s long overdue for Ghana to have a national stroke registry. Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana (SASNET-GHANA) led by the executive director, Secretary for the steering committee of the African Stroke Organization (ASO) and a board of director of the World Stroke Organization (WSO), Ad Adams Ebenezer is advocating and call on government and partners to support the call and raise the needed resources for the establishment of a national stroke registry.
Call the National Stroke Helpline for Assistance 0594989495
Email: helpline@sasnetghana.org
www.care.sasnetghana.org
Twitter : @adadams10 , @ghbeatstroke
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