Inverell team helps spread stroke-safe message

9 December 2008

Staff from Inverell Community Health Centre have been recognised for their efforts in promoting stroke awareness and education.

The Community Health team received were Highly Commended in the General Practice/Community Health category of the national Strokesafe Awards announced recently in Melbourne.

The Strokesafe Awards recognise the efforts of health professionals and community groups who support National Stroke Week.

Inverell Community Health Centre nurses provided free health checks throughout the McIntyre Cluster region during November as part of their campaign to support National Stroke Week.

The nurses also performed Know Your Numbers checks. The Know Your Numbers campaign is an initiative of the National Stroke Foundation. It aims to raise awareness of the high blood pressure - or hypertension - a major risk factor for stroke.

Inverell Community Health Centre manager Denise Grant said high blood pressure was often a silent killer because there may be no symptoms.

“It’s important that people in our local communities know their blood pressure numbers, and the only way to know your blood pressure is to have it checked,” Mrs Grant said.

 “We were more than happy to support National Stroke Week, and we were happy to find out our efforts were recognised as part of the Strokesafe Awards. It was a real pat on the back for our hardworking team of dedicated staff.”

Stroke is the second single biggest killer in Australia, and a leading cause of disability. This year Australians will suffer 60,000 new and recurrent strokes – that’s one stroke every 10 minutes.

In 2009, National Stroke Week will be held from 14-20 September.
 

(HNE-1659)

Contact: Carisa Josephs

Phone: (02) 6767 7135 or 0428 106 183