Lahore: The Stroke Management Programme launched in public sector hospitals has emerged as a major relief for stroke patients across Punjab, enabling hundreds to recover and avoid lifelong disability under the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
According to official sources on Thursday, more than 700 patients across the province have recovered after suffering stroke attacks during the past year. A key feature of the programme is the free provision of the life-saving TNK injection, which costs around Rs300,000 per dose and is beyond the reach of many patients.
A 70-year-old patient, Sharifa Bibi of Thokar Niaz Baig, was recently shifted to Services Hospital after suffering a severe stroke that left the right side of her body paralysed and severely affected her speech and hand movement. She was immediately provided treatment at the Chief Minister Stroke Management Centre established at the hospital.
Doctors administered the clot-busting TNK injection, following which Sharifa Bibi regained her speech within a few hours and fully recovered the affected limbs. Expressing her gratitude, she said the government initiative had given her a new lease on life.
Her son said that had the injection not been administered in time, his mother would have faced permanent disability. He also expressed deep appreciation for the initiative taken by Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif to make advanced stroke treatment accessible to the public.
On the directions of the chief minister, free TNK injections are currently being provided at 14 stroke management centres across Punjab. Fully functional centres have been established at Services Hospital, Lahore General Hospital and Mayo Hospital in Lahore, as well as Nishtar Hospital Multan and Sheikh Zayed Hospital Rahim Yar Khan.
Stroke management centres have also been set up in Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Gujranwala, Narowal, Dera Ghazi Khan and Layyah, while instructions have been issued to further expand the programme to other districts.
Emphasising the importance of timely treatment, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that the health of every citizen is the government’s responsibility and providing free, quality medical care remains its firm commitment. She added that if a stroke patient reaches a relevant hospital within four hours, not only can a life be saved, but permanent disability can also be prevented.