World Stoke Day 2019 #DontBeTheOne





Wake up and #DontBeTheOne


Son, go and get your passion with discipline, courage, and determination. That time in a relaxed morning, with a smile on your face, when you take a shower and get ready to go to work—school, job, meeting, conference, among others—after being obedient to the inner boss (inner voice). Not forgetting a healthy work environment and scenery of Rwanda Volcanoes from a window view. 

Courtesy: World in Data

With the same experience some week ago, I was facing the giant as usual and got time to go through some sources—Thanks to the internet. Scrolling the page, the usual thing to do, I paused minutes on the picture above to extend my understanding of the global burden of disease. If you cannot believe it, I will let you know that according to the World in Data, in 1993, the total burden ratio of communicable disease (communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) was 1:1, meaning 1.16 billion and 1.16 billion respectively; however, by 2017, data shows that the ratio changed approximately to 1:2.2 referring to 695.99 million and 1.55 billion respectively. Indicating an increase in the global burden of NCDs. 

Why this difference in ratios?


One may need to talk about the global success of vaccines for smallpox and polio, or the birth of the Global Fund, or the achievements of MDG 4 and 5. Another can argue or question if it is slow attention on NCDs or the rise of Big Tobacco, Big Alcohol, or environmental disgrace, resulting from industrialization and globalization era. 

Besides, the conversation to some level could not leave behind how the global community needs, in one way or another, something like a duplicate of UNAIDS to produce either UNHeart or UNCancer, plus sustainable funding and health economics policies for NCDs prevention and treatment as it worked on AIDS. 

However, it is a global health journey that composes and needs more success stories than the current, whereby some hope is on Global Health Alliances, SDGs—when implemented in one health perspective— and YOU. 

Acting now can reduce the burden!


October 29 involves YOU, with cost-friendly and efficient interventions on behavioral and lifestyle risk factors, to reduce the global burden of NCDs. #DontBeTheOne calls the global community to act on one of the silent killers—Stroke which, according to the World Health Organization, is the second leading cause of death after heart diseases and the third leading cause of disability. 

The World Stroke Day Campaign reminds us that one in four of us will have a stroke in a lifetime; however, it presents how global citizens and stakeholders can leverage prevention with #DontBeTheOne in mind as below:
  • Individuals with atrial fibrillation have five times compared to the general population to have a stroke. Working together to increase awareness in the healthcare industry reduces the risk.
  • Over 1 million strokes each year link to heavy consumption of alcohol. Choose wisely—prevention pays well.
  • More than 1 in 3 strokes are linked to high levels of cholesterol. Avoiding and managing processed food can reduce the risk, and it is about maintaining healthy eating habits.
  • Smoking also links with 1 in 10 strokes. Stopping smoking and avoiding second-hand smoke reduces your candidacy for developing stroke.
  • Stress and depression contribute to 1 in 10 strokes. Managing stressors such as anger, anxiety, conflict, and work reduces the risk of stroke.
  • A sedentary lifestyle accounts for over a third of strokes concerning veins, blood supply, and oxygen supply. Recommendation of 150 minutes (20-30 min per exercise) either walking to or from work, where possible, reduce the risk of stroke.
Would you take the primary lead and stand with the world to reduce the global burden of stroke? This is the right time for education, prevention, and advocacy for treatment because stroke is an untimely hazard that comes anytime as well as keeping in mind that prevention cannot work alone.  Please #DontBeTheOne, act now. 

 Sources:
  1. Our World in Data. (n.d.). Global Burden of Disease. Retrieved from ourworldindata.org: https://ourworldindata.org/burden-of-disease
  2. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5. Retrieved from www. who.int: https://www.who.int/pmnch/about/about_mdgs/en/
  3. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Stroke: a global response is needed. Retrieved from www. who.int: https://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/94/9/16-181636/en/
  4. World Stroke Day. (n.d.). World Stroke Day 2019. Retrieved from www.worldstrokecampaign.org: https://www.worldstrokecampaign.org/world-stroke-day-campaign/world-stroke-day/world-stroke-day-2019-tools


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