SAFE welcomes the publication of the EU Healthier Together plan

SAFE welcomes the publication of the EU Healthier Together plan

The European Commission recently launched the EU Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative – Healthier Together to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCD), including stroke, and improve health and wellbeing.

From December 2021 to May 2022, SAFE and the European Stroke Organisation (ESO) worked closely together with DG Sante – the EU Commission department responsible for their policies on health and food safety – in the co-creation process for the EU NCD initiative.

This has resulted in the publication of a toolkit to guide Member states and EU policymakers towards a holistic and coordinated approach for health promotion and disease prevention, treatment and care, for diseases including stroke.

The plan covers the period from 2022-2027 and prioritises four disease groups including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, mental health and neurological disorders and health determinants for all major NCDs. Recognising its significant health burden and opportunities for improvement, we are delighted to see that stroke is specifically drawn out as a priority area under mental health and neurological disorders.

The initiative underlines the vital importance of implementing a national stroke plan, increasing public awareness, and improving screening, encompassing the entire chain of care from primary prevention to life after stroke.

This builds on the Stroke Action Plan for Europe 2018-2030, developed by SAFE in collaboration with the European Stroke Organisation.

We look forward to working with DG Sante and the European Commission in implementing the initiative to improve stroke prevention, care and life after stroke for all affected by stroke in Europe.

The full report can be found here: https://t.co/Iofn3e46NW

Harriet Proios, SAFE President, added:

We welcome this response by the European Commission to the ongoing efforts of the health community to prioritise non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on the EU agenda. We worked together with the European Stroke Organisation on a joint response to the consultation which was based on the Stroke Action Plan for Europe and the Essentials of Stroke care guideline.

 

We are delighted that stroke is drawn out as a priority area and that the Stroke Action Plan will be implemented across Europe. This initiative gives us an ideal opportunity to raise the profile of stroke within our countries and we hope it will contribute to reducing the stroke burden, and improve the quality of life of those living with stroke in Europe.

European Life After Stroke Series March 2022 event – now available on demand

European Life After Stroke Series March 2022 event – now available on demand

If you missed our virtual event in March, you can now watch both plenaries at your leisure at our European Life After Stroke website www.elasf.org https://www.elasf.org/resource-centre/

Our next event will be on 9 November 2022. For the latest updates and more information on our Life After Stroke series, sign up to our enewsletter

Thank you for the excellent presentations including stroke survivors stories/experiences. I will definitely be aiming to embed some of these thoughts into my practise to empower my patients to be equipped for self-management in order to give them quality of life as stroke survivors.

Event participant, Plenary 1, Life After Stroke: Be inspired and share control – the added value of self-management

Thank you so much for such an interesting presentation. It was particularly interesting to hear from ‘expert witnesses’ and real- life experience of challenges and coping strategies.

Event participant, Plenary 2, Life after stroke: Communication in everyday life

European Stroke Organisation Conference 2022

European Stroke Organisation Conference 2022

We had a successful face-to-face presence at the European Stroke Organisation Conference 2022 – the first since the start of the pandemic.

Some of the highlights include:

  • A Stroke Action Plan for Europe (SAP-E) workshop where Arlene Wilkie, presented alongside Hanne Christensen (Denmark) and Bo Norving (Sweden). Romania shared their experiences of improving stroke care and Ukraine, Portugal, Italy and Armenia shared their successes to date.

 

  • SAFE President, Harriet Proios, as well as presenting SAP-E awards to Bulgaria, Estonia, Italy, Germany, Greece and Serbia, for their work in promoting SAP-E, spoke of the importance of SAP-E in improving stroke care for stroke survivors.

 

 

  • Harriet gave a moving presentation on the FAST Heroes initiative, Saving the World One Grandparent at a Time, demonstrating the impact successful educational and prevention campaigns can have.

 

  • Rubina Ahmed, SAFE Board member from the Stroke Association, UK, took part in a panel interview on the patient perspective and how to involve stroke survivors in research.

 

 

World Health Assembly adopts the Global Action Plan

World Health Assembly adopts the Global Action Plan

The Intersectoral Global Action Plan (GAP) on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders was adopted as a global health priority at the 75th World Health Assembly.

The GAP will address the worldwide and European challenges and gaps in providing care and services for people with neurological disorders, including stroke.

The European Federation of Neurological Associations calls for close alignment of the GAP with the European Union Non-Communicable Disease Initiative ‘Healthier Together’, expected to be adopted in June 2022.

 

Stroke Rehabilitation Webinar – 25 May 2022

Stroke Rehabilitation Webinar – 25 May 2022

The World Stroke Academy and the American Heart Association will be running a joint webinar on Guidelines for Stroke Rehabilitation on 25 May at 15.00 CET.

The webinar is free and accessible to anyone interested in learning about stroke rehabilitation and recovery.

Sign up here 

 

Cardiovascular Disease Plan for Europe launched 

Cardiovascular Disease Plan for Europe launched 

As a member of the European Alliance for Cardiovascular Health (EACH), we are pleased to see the launch of the Cardiovascular Disease Plan for Europe yesterday, (Monday 16 May 2022). 

EACH brings together patients, healthcare professionals, insurers, researchers and industry to tackle Europe’s leading cause of death. 

The proposed Plan aims to reduce premature and preventable deaths in Europe by one third in 2030, improve access for all to high quality cardiovascular risk assessments, set multi-disciplinary care pathways and pave the way for greater quality of life. 

It also aims to build further on the upcoming EU Non-Communicable Diseases Initiative ‘Healthier Together’ which will be developed with EU Member States, with national plans, tailored to country-specific realities and needs. 

Arlene Wilkie, SAFE Director General said:

We are excited to be involved in this initiative. It complements and strengthens the work that we are doing on the Stroke Action Plan for Europe 2018-2030 and ensures that stroke remains high on the European policy agenda. 

For more information about the plan see https://www.cardiovascular-alliance.eu/each-plan-for-cardiovascular-health-launched/ 

World Health Organisation Informal Consultation, 18-19 May 2022

World Health Organisation Informal Consultation, 18-19 May 2022

The World Health Organization (WHO) is holding a consultation with people living with non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions on the 18 and 19 May (09:00 – 12:00 CEST).

WHO is developing a Framework for Meaningful Engagement, which includes those living with stroke. The aim is to involve them in co-designing policies, programmes and principles. 

The consultation will include a mixture of presentations, discussions and breakout sessions. They will be co-led and facilitated by those with lived experience. 

Sign up here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/livedexperienceEUROen 

Clinical Trials Day Friday, 20 May 2022 

Clinical Trials Day Friday, 20 May 2022 

It is International Clinical Trials Day this Friday – the European Centre for Clinical Research Training has organised a free webinar on 20 May on International Clinical Trials Day.  

During this free online session, patients will share their journey in a clinical study. This will be an excellent opportunity for other patients to learn the benefits of clinical research.  

To register click here.