www.awnw.com.au
Issue #321 – Wednesday, 9 March, 2016
Albury Wodonga’s largest circulating newspaper
Beacon of light THROUGH her many diverse and outstanding contributions to her community, it didn’t come as a surprise when Christine Cameron was named the Local Woman of the Year for the Albury electorate... FOR FULL STORY, SEE PAGE 3
Alison Armstrong and stroke activists with Stroke Foundation CEO Sharon McGowan outside parliament.
Picture: CONTRIBUTED
No stroke funds By MONIQUE KUZEFF IN 1996, stroke became a “national health priority� in Australia. Over 20 years, no funding has gone towards a national stroke strategy. Stroke kills more women than breast cancer and more men than prostate cancer, according to Stroke Foundation Australia. Last Monday, stroke victim Alison Armstrong faced parliament alongside other stroke activists and Stroke Foundation chief executive officer Sharon McGowan to urge the Federal Government to take better leadership on stroke. The Federal Government was asked
to address dangerous gaps in stroke treatment and care by committing some funding. The Federal Government was requested to provide funding for “tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)�, which is a protein involved in the breakdown of blood clots; and also to implement support systems for stroke patients when they return home. Ms Armstrong shared her story on how her experience with stroke has impacted her life. Stroke not only affected her life in the way that it brought on anxiety, depression and panic attacks, but it also impacted on her family, Ms Armstrong said.
“I am still adjusting to my body not being able to do what it normally would have done. “It wasn’t so much the physical aspects that have really affected me, it was the emotional anxiety and depression that were the hardest parts for both me and my family. Ms Armstrong said visiting Canberra enabled them to voice their concern about the lack of support for stroke survivors after being hospitalised or rehabilitated. “There is a lack of support and information for stroke survivors after they come out of hospital,� Ms Armstrong said. “The right treatment and support
can make a huge difference in how well you recover from a stroke.� Mr Armstrong said she believed the government had the power to ensure Australians had access to high quality stroke care. “Australia has only one fully specialised stroke organisation, which is based down in Melbourne. “We want more specialised people in hospitals who are also qualified to administer the clot-busting drug that I was extremely lucky to receive. “Only seven per cent of stroke survivors are able to have that drug because of the lack of funding and access to it.�
According to Stroke CEO Ms McGowan, Farrer residents suffered almost 400 strokes alone last year. Ms McGowan said Ms Armstrong’s story helped highlight the issues within the current health system that are failing Australian stroke patients and their families. “We have some of the most brilliant minds working in the field of stroke but a lack of investment and co-ordination has meant stroke patients continue to go without,� Ms McGowan said. “A modest $44 million investment will allow us to start to urgently address the gaps in stroke treatment and care.�
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