World Stroke Day 2025 highlights the urgent global call by WSO to act on stroke prevention, care, and recovery under the theme ‘Every Minute Counts’
OdishaPlus Bureau
World Stroke Organization Calls For Urgent Global Action to Combat Surging Burden of Stroke
The World Stroke Organization (WSO) unites with its members and partners around the world to drive awareness and action on one of the most devastating global health challenges. This year’s Every Minute Counts campaign message is clear and urgent: 30 years on from the development of transformative treatments for stroke patients, it is time to accelerate action in stroke care systems to drive improved outcomes for patients.
World Stroke Day 2025 Theme: “Every Minute Counts”
With one in four at lifetime risk of stroke, we all have a role to play in accelerating action on stoke, from policymakers shaping health systems, clinicians delivering lifesaving care, or members of the public standing ready to spot the signs of stroke and secure immediate medical care- we all have a role in preventing the devastation of stroke.
Every year, stroke claims 7 million lives and leaves millions more with long-term disability. Beyond the human toll, the global economic cost of stroke exceeds US $891 billion annually, a figure projected to rise to US $1.6 trillion by 2050 without decisive global action.
While many high-income countries have reduced stroke incidence and mortality through prevention and improved acute care, this progress has not been shared equally. Low- and middle-income countries now bear the brunt of the crisis. By 2050, more than 90% of stroke-related deaths and disabilities will occur in regions least equipped to respond effectively.
“We cannot achieve global health and development goals – including progress on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and Universal Health Coverage -without prioritizing stroke,” said Prof Jeyaraj Pandian, President of WSO. “Prevention, acute care, and rehabilitation must be accessible to everyone, everywhere.”
“The solutions are known, the benefits are measurable, and the need is urgent and the time to act is now’, said Prof Pandian.”
On the observance of World Stroke Day, Nilambar Rath, Co-Chair, IFI Foundation (member of World Stroke Organisation) said, “Stroke is not just a medical crisis; it is a social and emotional challenge with considerable impact on families, communities and futures,”
“At IFI Foundation, we believe that awareness is the first step towards prevention from falling into the vicious cycle of this silent killer. Through Stroke Mukt Jeevan, our annual public health outreach campaign in India, we are working to empower people with awareness on prevention and management of stroke by inspiring healthy habits,” Rath said in his statement on the occasion.
As convenors of the Global Stroke Action Coalition (GSAC), a multi-sectoral partnership driving global and national policy action on stroke, the WSO is calling on governments and stakeholders worldwide to:
1. Prioritize stroke within national NCD responses.
2. Develop and implement National Stroke Action Plans to strengthen prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.
3. Explore innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms, including taxation of harmful products, to fund effective healthcare systems.
The WSO and GSAC reaffirm their commitment to work with governments and stroke stakeholders to accelerate implementation of proven, cost-effective interventions across the entire stroke care pathway – from prevention to recovery.