Metropolis Report –
A stroke occurs when anything prevents blood flow to a portion of the brain or when a blood artery in the brain bursts. It may result in permanent brain damage, chronic disability, or even fatality. Stroke is the second leading cause of death in the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 25 percent of people will experience a stroke at least once in their lifetime. At least 15 million people suffer from stroke every year, out of which at least 6 million people die.
Every 6 seconds, someone somewhere in the world dies of a stroke. Strokes were once thought to be a problem in rich countries only, but the number is actually higher in middle- and low-income countries. Researches show that the incidence of stroke has decreased by 42 percent in developed countries over the past 40 years, while it has doubled in the least developed or developing countries. By the year 2050, at least 80 percent of all stroke incidents in the world will occur in these countries.
To raise awareness about stroke, and ensure prompt treatment of the affected patients, two Bangladesh University of Engineering (BUET) graduates Md Ashikur Rahman Talukder Nibir, and Ranjan Roy Bappy along with a Dhaka Medical College student, Mobin Ibne Mokbul, launched a mobile phone app called “Stroke App” on 29th October 2022, World Stroke Day. As most parts of Bangladesh still lack advanced medical facilities, this app was developed with the vision of creating a stroke center in people’s pockets using digital technology. Hundreds of lives can be saved if the patient is taken to the nearest stroke center within the shortest possible time after a quick stroke detection test. One of the objectives of this app is to reduce the critical time between stroke and treatment.
This app can be downloaded from this link: https://strokeapp.fitnesslab.one/. It is not available on the play store now as Google verification will take some time. Currently, it is operated from a central data center so will only run online. But in the future, it will be made to run offline as well.
As a pocket-size digital stroke center, “Stroke App” will analyze the probability of stroke and help the patients to reach the nearest healthcare facility if needed. It will not be required to visit a far-off hospital only to ascertain a patient’s stroke risk. By answering a few questions, you can identify how serious the problem is. In addition, it will raise awareness through the necessary knowledge about stroke. For ease of operation, this app is built in both English and Bangla.
Lack of health knowledge is one of the main causes of increased morbidity in stroke. Hence, the “Stroke App” is developed with an enriched library facility, where there is an opportunity to read 3D books as well. Through various books, health advice and stroke prevention tips will be distributed. Over time, this digital pocket library will become an invaluable repository of health knowledge. If the patient is properly informed and maintains a healthy lifestyle, the risk of stroke can be significantly reduced.
Talking about the development process, co-founder Ranjan Roy Bappy said, “In collaboration with the faculty members of the Neurology department at Dhaka Medical College, we took the task of adding the list of stroke centers across the country along with their contact numbers, and addresses. We added the addresses of the nearest stroke centers through Google Map. If someone has a stroke, the app will automatically suggest the nearest stroke center. Once the patient data is filled, we can contact him/her for help.”
At present, from this app, only the probability of a stroke can be determined. In the future, more such tests will be added to this app along with various techniques and technologies to provide first aid from a distance. There are also plans to add treatment modules for many diseases that increase the risk of stroke, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. In addition, there are plans to add digital report submission services.
When asked about the funding for making the app, co-founder Md Ashikur Rahman Talukder Nibir said, “At this stage, we have done it for serving people only, not for commercial purposes. Now we are trying to promote the app. Though we have developed it with our own money, we are planning to develop a strategy to transform it into a sustainable social entrepreneurship model with grants and funds.”
