Global Heart Hub Launches Heart Failure Awareness Campaign 2025: “Heart Failure and Connected Conditions – The Whole Story”

5 May 2025 – Global Heart Hub (GHH), the international alliance of heart patient organisations, is proud to launch its 2025 Heart Failure Awareness Campaign, under the title “Heart Failure and Connected Conditions – The Whole Story”. This year’s campaign aims to raise global awareness of heart failure, and the critical role connected conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, and high blood pressure, play in its onset, progression, and management. Too often overlooked, these interconnected conditions are essential to understanding the full impact of heart failure on patients’ lives.

More than 60 million people worldwide live with heart failure – a progressive condition that, when detected and managed early, can be treated effectively. Despite this, heart failure remains one of the leading causes of premature death globally.

The 2025 campaign, led by the Heart Failure Patient Council of Global Heart Hub, is available and translated into 16 languages, and runs from May to December, bringing together patients, carers, healthcare professionals and policymakers to highlight the complex reality of living with heart failure.

Led by the Heart Failure Patient Council of Global Heart Hub, the 2025 campaign is available in 16 languages and runs from May to December, uniting patients, carers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers to shed light on the complex realities of living with heart failure. Through social media outreach using the hashtags #HeartFailure and #TheWholeStory, the campaign sheds light on the interconnected nature of heart failure with other health conditions.

Speaking about the campaign GHH Development Executive, and Heart Failure Campaign Lead Aistė Štaraitė said, “Heart failure rarely exists in isolation. Conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and mental health challenges frequently co-exist, complicating treatment and care. To improve outcomes, we must recognise and address the full picture, or as the campaign states, the whole story.”

Recognising symptoms and connected conditions early can make a critical difference. Simple actions such as routine check-ups, understanding personal health numbers (like blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels), and embracing a heart-healthy lifestyle can greatly reduce risk and enhance quality of life.

The campaign emphasises the need for integrated care models that coordinate support across various healthcare providers – an approach proven to reduce hospital admissions and improve long-term health outcomes for people living with heart failure.

As part of the campaign, Global Heart Hub is hosting a patient-centred webinar in partnership with Diabetes Initiative Indonesia, focusing on heart failure and its connected conditions. The webinar will take place via Zoom on Wednesday, 21 May at 10:00 UTC | 12:00 CET | 17:00 Western Indonesian Time. Registration is available at: https://globalhearthub.org/upcoming-events/

For more information or to support this campaign, see http://globalhearthub.org/heart-failure-awareness-2025

 -ENDS-

About the campaign

Led by Global Heart Hubs Heart Failure Patient Council, the 2025 Heart Failure Awareness Campaign focuses on the importance of managing heart failure and connected conditions. The Heart Failure Patient Council is an alliance of patient organisations from across the globe, working with heart failure patients and their carers. A priority of the council is to raise awareness of heart failure, promote public and healthcare education and advocate for policy action in an insufficiently recognised and increasingly burdensome disease area.

The Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana (SASNET-GHANA) is an affiliate of the Global Heart Hub.

MahamaCare a Step towards Accessible and Affordable Stroke Care in Ghana: An Expert’s Perspective

Stroke has become a significant health concern in Ghana, with a staggering number of cases recorded between 2021 and 2023. According to the Ghana Health Service, 71,900 stroke cases were reported during this period. Dr. Ben Jabuni, President of the Stroke Association Support Network (SASNET-GHANA), sheds light on the current state of stroke in Ghana and emphasizes the need for better statistics to understand the severity of the issue.

Risk Factors and Lifestyle Changes

High blood pressure is the single most important risk factor for stroke in Ghana, affecting over 1.5 million people. Dr. Jabuni attributes the shift in stroke prevalence to younger age groups to lifestyle changes, such as smoking and unhealthy eating habits. “Lifestyle changes are contributing to stroke in younger people,” he explains. “We need to emphasize the importance of healthy habits, such as regular exercise and a balanced diet, to prevent stroke.”

The Impact of Diet and Stress

Dr. Jabuni highlights the role of high sodium (salt) intake in contributing to high blood pressure and stroke risk. He advises against consuming foods with high sodium content and emphasizes the importance of regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. Stress is also a significant contributor to high blood pressure and stroke, and Dr. Jabuni notes that lifestyle changes have equalized stroke risks between rural and urban populations.

Symptoms and Immediate Medical Response

Dr. Jabuni introduces the FAST acronym (Face, Arms, Speech, and Time) to identify stroke symptoms and emphasizes the importance of acting quickly and seeking emergency medical care. However, he notes that Ghana’s healthcare system faces challenges in diagnosing and treating stroke due to equipment shortages such MRI, CT Scans , etc. and a lack of specialized professionals.

The Need for Community-Based Rehabilitation Centers and Assistive Technology

The Stroke Association Support Network is proposing community-based rehabilitation centers (CBR) and Assistive Technology (AT) to address the need for better stroke care. Dr. Jabuni emphasizes the importance of government support to establish these centers in local communities. “We need to develop community-based rehabilitation centers to provide accessible and affordable care for stroke patients and assistive support,” he says.

Affordability and Accessibility of Stroke Care

Dr. Jabuni discusses the high cost of stroke care and the challenges in affordability for patients. However, he highlights the potential of the MahamaCares initiative to make stroke care more accessible and affordable. “The MahamaCares initiative has the potential to significantly improve stroke care in Ghana by providing dedicated financial support and improving healthcare infrastructure,” he notes. This initiative could lead to better health outcomes and reduced mortality rates for stroke patients.

Conclusion

Stroke is a silent epidemic in Ghana, and Dr. Jabuni’s insights highlight the need for awareness, education, and better resources to address this growing health concern. By understanding the risk factors, symptoms, and importance of lifestyle changes, Ghanaians can take steps to prevent stroke and improve their overall health. The Stroke Association Support Network’s efforts to promote awareness, education and rehabilitation support are crucial in addressing this issue, and Dr. Jabuni’s call for community-based rehabilitation centers / assistive technology support and government support is a step in the right direction. The MahamaCares initiative offers a promising solution to improve stroke care in Ghana, and its implementation could have a significant impact on the lives of stroke patients.

Editorial  by

Sir Ebenezer Ad Adams

Executive Director SASNET GHANA

Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Expert

sasnetghana@gmail.com

0594989495

PRESS RELEASE TO ALL MEDIA HOUSES

16^TH March, 2025

Accra, Ghana – Today, 16^th March, 2025, the Stroke Association Support Network-Ghana (SASNET-Ghana) is proud to join forces with the  Neurology Society of Ghana, NCD Alliance Ghana/ Ghana NCD Alliance , Vision for Accelerated Sustainable Development, Stroke Health Professional Associations in Ghana,  World Stroke Organization, African Stroke Organization, World Heart Federation, World Patient Alliance , WHO CSO Commission, stroke survivors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals across Ghana to commemorate the 5th National Stroke Survivors Day.

5^th NATIONAL STROKE SURVIVORS DAY 2025 -A CALL ON THE NEW GOVERNMENT TO PRIOTIZED AND ALIGN OUR HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WITH GHANA’S RESETTING AGENDA FOR BETTER PATIENT OUTCOMES

Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana (SASNET-GHANA) a national non-for-profit Organization that operates across all the regions of Ghana. The Organization is a member of the World Stroke Organization, World Heart Federation, World Patient Alliance, World Hypertension League, African Stroke Organization, and the NCD Alliance Ghana, and has a consultative status with the United Nation since 2020.

National Stroke Survivors Day is commemorated annually on March 16th to promote the rights of persons with stroke, caregivers and stroke health professionals and advocate for an improved health care delivery and post discharged support (Life After A Stroke) for all persons affected with strokes and their families. The day aims to raise awareness about stroke, its signs, and risk factors, as well as support stroke survivors in Ghana ².

The Day, National Stroke Survivors was instituted by the Stroke Association Support Network-Ghana (SASNET-Ghana) with support of the Ministry of Health and other partners , Prof. Albert Akpalu President of the Neurology Society of Ghana , Ghana NCD Alliance and other Stroke and Health Professionals Associations in Ghana who are focused  on campaigning to raise awareness, supporting stroke survivors, and advocating for policy changes to improve stroke care delivery and the provision  of Assistive Technology to those in need of them.

The theme for this year 2025 National Stroke Survivors Day (NSSD202) event is ’Rehabilitate, Reintegrate, Renew: Renew Enhancing Stroke Care through Primary Health Care, Towards Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development’.

This year’s theme is aligned with the President of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama’s agenda of making primary health care accessible for all persons,

Ghana’s Universal Health Coverage Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals and

the National Policy Non Communicable Disease , 2022 , session 3.1.2 ,Secondary and Tertiary Prevention with emphasis on Rehabilitation ,

thus , I  quote’ This policy shall seek to promote and bring together appropriate measures to enable persons with disabilities including stroke (emphasis mine) to attain and maintain their maximum independence , full physical , mental ,social and vocational ability , and their inclusion and participation in all aspect of life through the implementation of activities aimed at improving the availability and access to modern rehabilitation facility , including orthotics and prosthetics, gadgets, capacity building in the procurement , distribution , installation, use and maintenance  of the rehabilitation equipment and the  provision  of support , counselling and therapy service to restore and to compensate lost function, unquote.

The observance of the 5^th National Stroke Survivors Day today 16^th of March, 2025 is an opportunity to highlight the importance of stroke prevention, gaps in Ghana health care system with respect to stroke care delivery ,  provision of Assistive Technology to those in need of them ,  timely treatment, adequate  patient to multidisciplinary team (multidisciplinary team manage and treat stroke )  ratio, access to quality treatment and services ,post discharge support , community based rehabilitation , use of rehabilitation robotics  and support for survivors and their families.

Over 71,985 cases of stroke were reported across the country between 2021 and 2023 according to the Non Communicable Disease Control Programme of the Ghana Health Service, being the leading cause of deaths and disabilities in Ghana. According to the, World Health Organization WHO, in 2020, 15,163 people died from stroke in Ghana, which was 8.67% of the total death.

Stroke is considered a significant public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa and Ghana due to its impact on quality of life, (Attakorah et al, 2024) Stroke severity is the key predictor of long-term mortality after an index stroke in Ghana, regardless of the underlying pathophysiologic mechanism (Sarfo, et al, 2022).

Stroke constitutes a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Ghana. Major efforts are needed in the prevention and treatment of stroke. Population-based health education programs and appropriate public health policy need to be developed (Agyeman et al, 2022). Instituting acute stroke systems of care to facilitate timely reperfusion efforts may greatly improve long term survival outcomes after stroke in SSA (Sarfo, et al, 2022).

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8 Key Action demands from government of Ghana, Ministry of Health, Ghana,:

1. Invest in Stroke Care Delivery/Health Care System: Provide each regional hospital with CT scan and MRI machines for early detection and treatment of stroke.

2. Train Healthcare Professionals: Invest in the training of neurologists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, audiologists, clinical psychologists, stroke nurses, and social workers, etc in the attainment of WHO patient to doctors /other health professionals ratio.

3. Rehabilitation Robotics: Invest in the training, purchase and use of rehabilitation robotics to improve patient outcomes.

4. National Policy on Assistive Technology: Support the development of a National Policy on Assistive Technology for Ghana in the provision and effective management of AT such as wheelchairs, walkers, etc.

5. Community-Based Rehabilitation Centers: Support the effort by the Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana in the establishment community-based rehabilitation robotics centers across the 16 regions of Ghana with aim to make rehabilitation service more accessible to persons living disability at the community level.

6. Expand National Health Insurance Scheme: Cover all physiotherapy sessions for persons living with stroke under the National Health Insurance Scheme.

7. Support for Persons with Disability: Include persons with disability in the Government’s LEAP livelihood program to support those who are incapable of working.

8. Government should enforce the policy mandating public and private institutions to modify their facilities to make it accessible via ramps, lifts, etc to enable easy access for persons with stroke/disability.

We believe that every stroke survivor deserves access to quality healthcare and rehabilitation services, as well as government providing all the needed support for stroke health professionals to deliver quality and patient centered service “said Sir Ad Adams Ebenezer, Executive Director of SASNET-GHANA.

We urge the Government of Ghana to prioritize health care delivery especially stroke care and invest in initiatives that improve patient outcomes’.

Join us in advocating for better stroke care in Ghana. Together, we will rebuild the lives of those affected with Stroke, indeed there is LIFE AFTER A STROKE

Ad Adams Ebenezer

Rehabilitation -Assistive Technology Expert and Global  Patient Advocate  , Secretary, African Stroke Organization, Vice Chair Ghana NCD Alliance, WHO CSO Communication and Advocacy WG member

Executive Director, SASNET-Ghana

+233594989495/+233202985960

ad.adams@sasnetghana.org sasnetghana@gmail.com

PRESS RELEASE

All Media Houses

Status of National CVD Epidemic

#UseHeart movement rallies for change as heart disease continues to claim most lives

GENEVA and ACCRA, 29 September 2023 – This World Heart Day, the World Heart Federation (WHF) and the Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana (SASNET-GHANA) are urging all

sectors and citizens to join forces and take down cardiovascular disease (CVD) from its “number one killer” position. Conditions of the heart or blood vessels including stroke and heart failure killed more than 20 million people in 2021 yet up to 80 per cent of premature heart attacks and strokes can be prevented. Many affected by high-trending CVD rates include those under 55 years of age, and people in low- and middle-income countries and in some high-income countries. The global #UseHeart movement springs from the annual World Heart Day campaign to drive year-long awareness and action to reverse the debilitating impacts of CVD.Professor Daniel J. Piñeiro, President of WHF said: “The figures are so staggering that in 2013, ischaemic heart disease featured in the Guinness Book of World Records. We want to set a new record, one that improves the health and access to care for every citizen and mobilizes everyone to improve cardiovascular health.”

In Ghana , The results of the CVD Scorecard Project (MOH,GHS ,SASNET,2023) have revealed unsettling trends in the economic burden of CVDs. For instance, the Estimated direct (e.g. health care-related) cost of tobacco use in Ghana’s population stood at 123 million USD every year, i.e. an average per capita of over Fifty – Two Thousand (52,000) persons (i.e. USD 2,363.3). The Proportion of premature CVD mortality attributable to tobacco (%) is estimated at 66.39%. Given the seemingly “low” prevalence of tobacco use, a proposed hypothesis for this could be explained by secondary smoking and the use of other forms of tobacco.Recorded alcohol consumption per capita (15+ years) in liters of pure alcohol in a three-year period in Ghana averagely stood at 2.7 liters, meaning the entire Ghanaian population consumes 27,713,347.2 liters every year.

Premature mortality due to CVD in the age range of 30-70 years of age is estimated at 13%, with the total mortality amongst males and females stands at 14.41% and 24.70% respectively with a total mortality estimated at 19.06%. This seems at variance with the life expectancy at birth for males and females (64.1 years and 69.1 years respectively).

CVD prevalence can be traced to gaps in care systems, variable access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Though relatively easy to monitor and treat, high blood pressure remains the leading risk factor for developing CVD. National health systems must expand coverage of essential services for CVD and other circulatory conditions, priorities primary care and early screening, allocate public funding and ensure an adequate workforce.

Lifestyle and affording beneficial daily choices are also key factors in maintaining healthy hearts. Proper nutrition, recreation and regular exercise, sleep, and rest are vital; the same goes for staying off tobacco and avoiding harmful use of alcohol.

The #UseHeart movement’s inaugural partnership with Iqniter, a leader in health training devices to encourage physical activity through its Counting Hearts Initiative, is one example of global collaboration. Iqniter will donate part of the proceeds from sales of its precision heart rate armbands in support of WHF’s vision of cardiovascular health for all.

The World Heart Federation and the Stroke Association Supportnetwork-Ghana are urging all  Ghanaian citizens as a matter of importance , to take charge of their health by using heart to Know their Heart Health,ie by  routinely having their Blood Pressure measurement ,Blood Sugar test (FBS/RBS/HbAIC)   , Hb and Lipid profile checked.  Additional as  Ghanaians we  must all  make healthy choices with regards to our diet / food, drinks  which are being consumed on a daily basis.

The Stroke Association Supportnetwork- Ghana and partners are calling on the government to as a matter of urgency initiate the processes to  operationalize the  CVD Score Card System which would  greatly enhance service delivery by capturing, collating/aggregating, analyzing data and information on systemic issues which will be quickly available to professionals at local levels as well as managers and decision makers at higher operational levels as well as to researchers. And provide directive for the implementations of the recommendations from the CVD, Diabetes and Obesity roundtable discussion held in 30th-31st March ,2023 at Aburi , Aruba Hotel in the Eastern region of Ghana.

As part of plans for commemorating   this year’s World Heart Day, 2023 , the Stroke Association in partnership with Safety Communication Consult in collaboration with the cardio unit of the Ho Teaching Hospital and with support from partners such as Tobinco Group of Companies through the leadership of the executive chairman Dr Samuel Amo Tobbin have commenced a year-round screening exercise  at Ho, volta region of Ghana which would be replicated across the country.

An initiative dubbed , Echos for Cardio Unit fundraising exercise has been  launched with aim to seek financial  support and contributions  from companies, cooperate institutions, philanthropists, individuals, local and international partners  to purchase echos and other supportive equipment for cardio units across the country beginning with Cardio Unit of the Ho Teaching Hospital . The Echos for Cardio unit fundraising would be carried out through table tennis competition,

Media Contact: Ad Adams Ebenezer , SASNET-GHANA,

ad.adams@sasnetghana.org, phone : 0594989495/0262463986

Press Statement

To all Media Houses

29^th October, 2022

A public health emergency, precious time saves lives

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide, claiming upwards of six million lives per year and causing chronic disability in more than 50% of survivors (reference). The World Stroke Organization (WSO) estimates that one in four adults over the age of 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime (reference).Many of them will succumb to a disease that is both largely preventable and in many cases treatable, provided the symptoms are recognized quickly and treatment can be accessed on time.

This is the reason why the WSO declared stroke a public health emergency in 2010, and why its World Stroke Day campaign focuses on teaching people about the signs of stroke and the importance of taking swift action when a stroke occurs.

World Stroke Day is a global event that is held every year on 29 October. It is an opportunity to raise awareness of the serious nature and high rates of stroke, talk about prevention and treatment, and ensure better care and support for survivors .Since 2021 till date, 2022 the  #Precioustime campaign has highlighted awareness of stroke symptoms and the benefits of quick action immediately after a stroke occurs. Timely treatment saves lives and can vastly improve patient outcomes, leaving independence, quality of life and precious memories intact

Time is brain

When someone has a stroke, every second counts. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted, most frequently by a clot in an artery supplying blood to the brain, and sometimes by hemorrhage when a burst vessel causes blood to leak into the brain.

The longer the brain is deprived of blood and oxygen, the more severe the damage and the higher the likelihood of death or disability. Quick action to restore the blood supply to the brain is therefore vital to arrest the damage and prevent further loss of function.

Globally,  87% of all strokes are ischemic strokes but in Africa only 67% of all strokes are ischemic while the remaining 33% are haemorrhagic. Ischemic stroke occurs when a clot in one of the brain’s blood vessels reduces or prevents blood flow to the brain. Clot-dissolving drugs can restore the blood supply; but to be effective they must be administered in less than 4.5 hours after stroke onset. The sooner a stroke patient therefore reaches a stroke-ready hospital where they can access urgent treatment, the better their chances of surviving the event and leading a disability-free live.

Signs of stroke

The symptoms of stroke appear suddenly, and often more than one symptom occurs at the same time. Unlike a heart attack, however, unless accompanied by severe headache, a stroke is generally painless, which is why too many patients ignore symptoms until it is too late.

The most common symptoms of stroke are sudden weaknesses or numbness in the face, arm or leg on one side of the body, and loss of speech or trouble speaking or understanding speech.

The tool to help people remember and recognize these symptoms is an important four-letter word. The FAST acronym was developed to help people detect stroke and respond to the needs of a person having a stroke. The acronym stands for Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulties and Time to call emergency services. It is used with high accuracy in diagnosing strokes by paramedics, but by simply remembering the acronym and the number to dial in an emergency, anyone can save a loved one’s life

Who is at risk

Anyone is at risk of having a stroke, but the risk is higher among people over the age of 65 and those with a family history of stroke. High, uncontrolled blood pressure and blood sugar levels and atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm) are the biggest risk factors for having a stroke. You can reduce your risk by seeking medical treatment to control your blood pressure and undergoing screening and treatment for aFib.

Medical treatment and a healthy lifestyle can prevent up to 80% of strokes. Eating a healthy diet (particularly rich in green leafy vegetables), exercising regularly, and avoiding smoking and drinking too much alcohol will significantly reduce your stroke risk, and even small improvements in each of these can make a difference.

It’s never too soon to start your stroke-prevention strategy. Up to 15% of all strokes occur in adults younger than 50, but by quitting smoking, moving more, choosing healthy foods and keeping blood pressure under control, almost everyone can protect themselves from a potentially devastating event.

The Angels Initiative

The Angels Initiative is a global healthcare project whose goals are to establish more stroke-treating hospitals around the world, and to raise the standard of stroke treatment worldwide. Founded in 2016, it grew within five years to become the biggest stroke community in the world, its future impact underwritten by Boehringer Ingelheim’s Sustainable Development framework. By 2021, 6,300 hospitals had registered with Angels worldwide, including 1,300 new stroke-ready hospitals the organization had established. An estimated 7,5 million patients had been treated in Angels hospitals, 1,879 of which had achieved the WSO-endorsed Angels Awards based on their quality of care.

FAST Heroes

The FAST Heroes campaign is an educational stroke awareness project of the Angels Initiative, which leverages children’s enthusiasm for learning and sharing to transfer knowledge about stroke to their parents and grandparents. Children enrolled in FAST Heroes at their school learn about the most common symptoms of stroke and the importance of calling an ambulance immediately if these symptoms appear.

African Stroke Organization (ASO)

The African Stroke Organization (ASO) calls on governments in Africa through ministries of health to address the big  issue, the increasing burden  of stroke on our continent, Africa , the gap in accessing  timely  stroke service /treatment , post-discharge support and rehabilitation and integration.  ASO therefore recommends to governments to adopt and implement polices and programmes  of the World Stroke Organization, African Stroke Organization ,World Heart Federation ,World Health Organization etc  that are aimed to reduce  the burden of stroke and improve the lives of those living with stroke in Africa.

ASO Secretariat

africanstrokeorg@gmail.com

+2348033704384

+233262463986

Facebook: @AfricanStroke Organization-ASO

Twitter: @AfricanStroke

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