SITUATION
Stroke Action Nigeria was established in 2012 as a national Stroke support organisation to help promote positive wellbeing and save lives through helping stroke survivors regain function and independence, as well as preventing and managing stroke risk factors like diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, obesity, physical inactivity. In 2012, there was low level of understanding of the risk factors associated with stroke. Inadequate stroke care at the community and level Low level of support for stroke survivors, leading to delayed recovery from stroke and stress for carers and stroke patients..
TASK
Against the background of the dearth of stroke awareness and specialised medical services, Stroke Action Nigeria required communications management support to realise its objectives. It thus entered a partnership with C&F Porter Novelli..
APPROACH
C&F Porter Novelli developed a strategic communications plan designed to catapult the incidence of stroke above the national message clutter, motivate change about stroke amongst relevant audiences, and amplify the issues with regards to stroke. A key tactic was the championing of a stroke advocacy campaign by Stroke Action Nigeria. The campaign focused on stroke awareness and prevention with the celebration of the annual World Stroke Day on October 29 as a major event. .. Other elements of the communications plan included policy-maker outreach, alliance building, issues management, and media relations.
RESULTS
Increased Stroke awareness: There are now other stroke support organisations in Nigeria with statutory and non-statutory agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) celebrating the annual World Stroke Day.
Policy change in Nigeria Stroke Care: In collaboration with the FMOH , Stroke Action Nigeria, facilitated the establishment of the Nigeria Stroke Reference Group which led to the development of the first Non-Communicable Disease policy in Nigeria that has a stroke mention.
Global recognition as leader in community-based stroke rehabilitation :The community-based life after stroke intervention model for stroke rehabilitation developed by Stroke Action Nigeria has attracted international attention. A study is currently in progress to evaluate its impact for purposes of replicating the model in other sub-Saharan African Countries.