A landmark achievement in stroke care was celebrated yesterday with the inauguration of the world’s first World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Stroke at Christian Medical College & Hospital (CMCH), Ludhiana. The new center represents a significant milestone in the fight against stroke and positions Punjab at the forefront of global stroke management efforts.
During the inauguration, Punjab’s Health and Welfare Minister lauded the establishment of this pioneering center, emphasizing its importance given the state’s considerable stroke burden. “It is a proud moment for Punjab to host the only WHO Collaborating Center dedicated to stroke care,” the Minister stated. With an alarming 40,000 new stroke cases reported annually in the state, the need for advanced and timely treatment has never been more critical.
Stroke treatment requires swift action, with options such as clot-bursting injections (thrombolysis) available within 4-5 hours of symptom onset for ischemic strokes. For severe cases involving large artery blockages, mechanical thrombectomy can be performed within 24 hours to remove the clot from the brain. The Health Minister highlighted the vital role of this center in providing such timely interventions.
Dr. Singh announced plans for the state health department to collaborate with the new center, aiming to enhance stroke care by training doctors and nurses from government hospitals. This initiative will support the development of a comprehensive stroke care model in Punjab, with CMCH acting as the central hub for guiding and assisting other hospitals and medical colleges across the state.
Dr. Jeyaraj D Pandian, President-Elect of the World Stroke Organization and Principal and Professor of Neurology at CMCH, underscored the center’s long-standing collaboration with the WHO Southeast Asia region (WHO SEAR) over the past eight years. This new designation will extend the center’s impact to additional WHO regions worldwide, broadening its efforts to improve public awareness and stroke care.
Dr. Pandian also emphasized the center’s role in advancing stroke care practices and highlighted the importance of ongoing studies into lifestyle disorders affecting the Punjab population.
The inauguration was attended by prominent figures including Dr. Avnish Kumar, Director of Medical Education and Research, Dr. William Bhatti, Director of CMCH, and Dr. Jasbir Singh Aulakh, Civil Surgeon. They commended the establishment of the advanced stroke center, noting its potential to significantly bolster stroke services in the region.
With this new center, CMCH is poised to lead a transformative approach to stroke management, setting a precedent for stroke care both nationally and globally.
