by Wilfred Pilo, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on October 1, 2013, Tuesday
KUCHING: The Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) gets about two stroke patients every day on the average in the past one to two years.
SGH Neurologist Dr Rachael Sim Siew Hung said that on average 50 per cent of the patients would end up in the operating theater.
She added that 50 per cent of stroke patients would suffer severe physical disabilities within five years.
When that happens, they would have to undergo physical rehabilitation, she told a press conference to announce the staging of the state-level `World Stroke Day 2013 celebration at Batu Kawa Health Clinic from 9am to 1pm this coming Oct 27.
Also present were Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, who has been invited to officiate at the launching ceremony on Oct 27, deputy state health director Dr Chin Zin Hing, SGH Rehabilitation Physician Unit head Dr Leong Be Kim, state nursing head Matron Fu Choon Kee and SGH nursing head Matron Ng Yeng Lai.
Dr Sim hoped that the event at Batu Kawa Health Clinic would create greater awareness among members of the public on the dangers of stroke.
She added that preventive measures should be taken seriously as stroke could also strike those below 60 years old.
Treatment of diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol and obesity can decrease the risk of getting a stroke, she said.
Meanwhile, Dr Leong said rehabilitation is a relatively new field, but it could help stroke patients recover faster.