First comprehensive Emergency Acute Stroke and Rapid Evaluation Center in Nigeria opens in Imo State
In Imo State, Nigeria, the first comprehensive private sector Emergency Acute Stroke and Rapid Evaluation Center has opened, marking a significant advancement in the care of stroke patients. The Center is the outcome of collaboration between the Labrad Diagnostics Center, the Regions Stroke and Epilepsy Foundation, and the Regions Stroke and Neuroscience Hospitals. It has cutting-edge GE HealthCare (www.GEHealthCare.com) technologies installed, and it’s intended to enhance patient outcomes and save lives.
Stroke ranks among the top causes of death and disability worldwide. There are currently over 100 million stroke sufferers globally, with over 10 million new cases reported in 2019 alone [1]. Stroke was the second most common non-communicable disease cause of death and disability in Nigeria, a nation of over 200 million people. 30-day case fatality rates in Nigeria, according to hospital-based research conducted between 2004 and 2021, ranged from 21% to 40%.
For patients to survive and experience positive functional outcomes, proper acute stroke care is essential. Modern GE HealthCare technology, such as a 32-slice CT scanner, C-arm, ventilators, anesthesia machines, multimodality patient monitors, ultrasound for echocardiography and carotid assessment, and equipment capable of performing multimodality acute stroke imaging, will enable patients to be quickly assessed and diagnosed at the Center. The Center also houses specialized stroke neurologists, critical care and stroke nurses, and an internal laboratory.
Better patient care for stroke victims throughout Nigeria, the West African area, and the continent was the main focus of this regional initiative, which brought together international partners to plan, develop, and implement the facility’s operations and procedures.
At Regions Stroke and Neuroscience Hospital, Dr. Benjamin Anyanwu, MD, stated, “Patient care was the main priority when this institution was constructed. To finish the job on schedule, the team put in a lot of overtime. With the help of this center, we can treat Nigerians in the comfort of their own homes, reducing the death rate from stroke and enhancing the quality of life for those who have suffered one.
“The Center will enable critical healthcare services in a remote area; GE HealthCare’s involvement supports our strategy in Africa to bring the care right to the patient, helping doctors and practitioners to diagnose, treat, monitor, and save lives,” stated Dr. George Uduku, General Manager of GE HealthCare for West Africa.
