A social campaign to raise awareness about FAST signs of stroke has been launched

The social campaign of raising awareness about FAST signs of stroke was initiated by P. Sarajishvili Institute of Neurology under New Hospitals and in connection of which New Hospitals and 112 Georgia Emergency and Operative Response Center of Ministry of Interior Department, held a joint press conference. The conference was attended by Salome Gelutashvili, representative of MIA LEPL 112, Giorgi Ramishvili, the Director of New Hospitals, Temur Marghania, the Head of Neurology and Neuro-rehabilitation Department of New Hospitals and Sophio Lebanidze, the General Director of PSP Insurance.

The aim of stroke awareness raising campaign is to inform public about FAST signs of stroke. It is important to remember FAST signs of stroke for any person, as early detection of stroke a rapid response will be possible - calling to 112 and delivery of the patient to the stroke center, which significantly reduces the risk of stroke - permanent, severe disability or death. The name FAST is the abbreviation of the three signs of stroke and is encoded as follows: Face dropping - the face is pulled down on one side? Can he/she smile? Arm weakness - can he/she raise and maintain both hands? Speech disorder - distorted speech or he/she has difficulty in speaking? Time to call 112!

Within the framework of the campaign, the society will learn that in the event of stroke detection, it is important to act rapidly as only in the case of rapid transfer of the patient to the specialized stroke center, it is possible to treat with systemic thrombosis, which is the modern method of treatment of ischemic stroke. The thrombolysis can dissolve thrombus in blood vessels, restore blood circulation and prevent brain tissue damage. Thrombolysis is an urgent medical assistance procedure and means intravenous injection –alteplase, by which the ischemic stroke-causing blood clots formed in the arteries are dissolved.

Seminars on stroke will be conducted for operators of MIA LEPL 112 which will be provided by the Neurological Department of New Hospitals. The seminars will increase the awareness of operators on stroke and help them to response timely, if necessary.

New Hospitals cooperates with state and private insurance programs. It is in the framework of these co-operation, that introduction of stroke insurance is considered by PSP Insurance, which means covering the treatment costs of patients with a thrombosis during ischemic stroke. Neurological Department of New Hospitals which is established on the basis of P. Sarajishvili Institute of Neurology, is staffed with experienced doctors and equipped with high-tech medical equipment. From 2017 the clinic has specialized stroke center. The neurological services of New Hospitals include treatment of movement disorders, epilepsy, neuro-infectious, neuro-muscular and cerebrovascular diseases as well as neuro-rehabilitation procedures, autonomic, behavioral neurology of children and adolescents.