New $1.4m scheme to help patients recovering from stroke

It focuses on transition of care for mild to moderate stroke survivors in community

- judith Tan

Kindergarten teacher Reema Bhatti was getting her 30 charges from the Al-Istiqamah Mosque Kindergarten ready for an excursion in May when she started slurring and perspiring profusely.

Her colleagues noticed this and informed the kindergarten's principal, who insisted she rush directly to the hospital. Fortunately, she made it in time.

Today, the 53-year-old is back at work after having spent six weeks recovering. Happy that she is safe, her colleagues now rally around her.

"They buzz around me to make sure I am okay," said Madam Bhatti. "Some of them took over my duties of rushing around, changing the diapers of the three- and four-year-olds. My principal even monitors the number of times I drink water."

Just such support is what a new initiative, called Reintegration for Stroke community Endeavour (Rise), aims to do for up to 1,000 patients recovering from mild to moderate stroke and their caregivers.

The initiative will "facilitate community reintegration and improve their overall well-being", said Senior Minister of State for Health Janil Puthucheary, who was speaking at the launch of Rise at the 20th Singapore International Stroke Conference at the Academia on the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) campus on Oct 4.

Temasek Foundation will commit close to $1.4 million for the three-year project, and the programme is expected to be rolled out at both SGH and Tan Tock Seng Hospital in 2025.