In light of World Stroke Day which was commemorated on 29 October, Life Carstenhof Hospital hosted an awareness campaign to teach people about the importance of staying healthy and being aware of the symptoms that lead to a stroke.
Neurologist Dr Siphokazi Nkohla, along with her team of nurses, stood at the hospital’s main entrance reaching out to every visitor, patient and employee, explaining the symptoms of stroke to them while handing out pamphlets.
Nkohla said time was a major factor in a stroke-related situation. “Most people do not know about the signs. A stroke is a brain attack, those affected should watch out for the Fast acronym… once you get those signs, quickly get to the nearest hospital as soon as possible.”
The Fast acronym refers to the face (which will start drooping), arm (which might feel a bit limp, weak or feel like there is pins and needles), speech (speech will become slurred making it hard for others to make out what you are saying) and time (once symptoms start to show, time is of the essence). Nkhohla added that a stroke does not happen to older people only, it could happen at any age. “Something can be done as the signs and symptoms can be reversed, as long as one presents themselves within three hours to a doctor.”
Joyce Aphane, who is a stroke survivor, shared insight into how her life had changed since having a stroke. Aphane was affected by a stroke in 2004, and then again early the following year. “I could not walk, or talk, I had to rely on a wheelchair for some time, but I am fortunate it hit me on the right side of my body, hence I survived because it was not close to my heart.”
Aphane added that the stroke really affected her life because she could no longer cook, do house chores, work in her garden or just go out to the mall.
“It is challenging. Now we have to hire a car or use a taxi which is traumatising as taxi ranks are too busy for me and hiring a car is expensive.”
Aphane’s son Tebogo said he had to learn to cook at an early age and almost left school because of the situation they had been faced with at home. “I started working while in Grade 10 to make pocket money since finances were lacking. I also had to make sure I always made myself available to assist my mother.
“But otherwise I believe positively, I have learned a lot about life, [my mother] and my strengths and weaknesses.”
Details: Life Carstenhof Hospital spokesperson Ntombi Ncube 011 655 5569.
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