Stroke at 30? Why More Young Nigerians Are Becoming Victims

• Experts warn that stroke is no longer just an elderly disease, with cases increasing among younger individuals, especially those with sickle cell disease.
• The lack of affordable neuroimaging scans like CT and MRI, coupled with inadequate stroke care centers, reduces survival chances for many Nigerians.
• Medical experts advocate for AI, robotics, and virtual reality in rehabilitation to improve recovery rates and reintegrate stroke survivors into society.

Stroke remains a major health crisis in Nigeria, with diabetes and hypertension as the leading risk factors. However, beyond prevention, experts warn that poor access to diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation is worsening the survival and recovery rates for stroke patients across the country.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that at the 57th Annual Scientific Conference of the Nigerian Society of Neurological Sciences (NSNS) in Benin, medical experts raised concerns over the scarcity and high costs of essential stroke investigative tools, such as CT scans and MRIs.

They also highlighted the lack of a coordinated national guideline for stroke care, which leaves many patients without proper treatment.

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In a communiqué signed by Professor Morenikeji Komolafe (NSNS President) and Dr. Emmanuel Iwuozo (Secretary), the experts noted that stroke among sickle cell patients, especially young people, remains a growing problem. Additionally, post-stroke depression, which can affect recovery, is often overlooked and untreated.

To improve stroke management in Nigeria, they emphasized the need to integrate new technologies such as telerehabilitation, robotics, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence into stroke rehabilitation. These advancements could expand access to therapy and improve patient recovery nationwide.

The experts also called for:

Greater public awareness of stroke symptoms to ensure early hospital visits.

The creation of a National Stroke Registry to provide up-to-date data for healthcare planning.

Subsidized costs for neuroimaging scans and improved access to stroke units and specialized centers.

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More trained healthcare professionals in stroke management and rehabilitation to help survivors regain independence.

With stroke rates rising and treatment options still out of reach for many Nigerians, experts stress that urgent intervention is needed to prevent unnecessary deaths and disabilities.

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