Ignorance about stroke and its treatment cost 68-year-old Avinash Godbole his right arm and leg seven years ago. “Ignoring symptoms when I had the first stroke was the biggest mistake,” said Godbole. Now, Godbole is lending support to a group which is creating awareness on the signs and early treatment of stroke.

The first-of-its-kind support group with 940 members at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital and Medical Research Institute aims at providing a complete holistic quality healthcare to stroke patients. “Even though we have an estimated 2000-3000 people who die of stroke every day in India, we don’t have a single support group besides this one to spread awareness,” said Dr Shirish Hastak stroke specialist and neurologist at the hospital.

The support group is an extension of the 4-part-comprehensive stroke plan at the hospital. The other three parts are the acute stroke plan, chronic stroke plan and the rehabilitation stroke plan.

Stroke can be treated properly if the patient is brought to a hospital within 3 hours of the first stroke. However, Dr Hastak said that most stroke victims are not aware of the basic information.

“Ninety percent of stroke victims are not aware that they can take medicines for prevention of further strokes or change in lifestyle can combat the disease. Also most patients drop out from treatment because it’s a disease with painless symptoms,” said Dr Hastak.