Draft Resolution for Reducing the Burden of Stroke: Strengthening Prevention, Acute Care, Rehabilitation and Health-system Readiness

We strongly support the draft resolution on reducing the burden of stroke and commend the leadership of Egypt, Tunisia, and Palestine, alongside other sponsoring countries, in advancing this important public health agenda.

Stroke remains a major and growing challenge across the Eastern Mediterranean Region, where high rates of hypertension, diabetes, obesity, tobacco use, and limited access to timely rehabilitation continue to drive preventable mortality and disability. The resolution rightly recognizes that low- and middle-income countries account for nearly 87% of global stroke deaths and highlights the urgent need to strengthen prevention, emergency response, rehabilitation, and health-system readiness.

We particularly welcome the resolution’s focus on equitable access to stroke services, workforce development, digital health, and integrated NCD care pathways. We also emphasize the critical role of civil society organizations (CSOs) in supporting governments and other sectors to raise public awareness, promote prevention and early detection, strengthen community and patient engagement, and support the continuum of stroke care and rehabilitation services.

In addition, we underline the importance of training and empowering caregivers and families, and ensuring that patients receive the necessary psychosocial, community-based, and rehabilitation support throughout the recovery phase to improve quality of life and long-term outcomes.

Regional collaboration, multisectoral partnerships will be essential to accelerate implementation and reduce the growing social and economic burden of stroke across the EMR and globally.