Task Force 4 Ukraine Secures Grant

University of Oslo Awards Grant to Task Force 4 Ukraine.

We are delighted to notify you that the University of Oslo has granted 29,000 euros for the taskforce’s efforts.

According to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO), Ukraine witnesses approximately 130,000 stroke cases annually, with higher mortality rates compared to most European countries. In Ukraine, nearly 20% of admitted stroke patients die within the first month of stroke onset, and stroke accounts for 13% of all deaths in the country.

The European Stroke Organisation Task Force for Ukraine was established to support stroke care and physicians during the war. By addressing the urgent needs and improving stroke care in Ukraine, this project aims to make a meaningful impact on the lives of stroke patients and support healthcare professionals in providing better care during the ongoing war.

Ongoing Efforts and Future Actions

Given the continuing need for improving stroke care in Ukraine and supporting Ukrainian colleagues, the Ukrainian Anti-Stroke Association and the Ukrainian Stroke Medicine Society, along with the European Stroke Organisation Task Force for Ukraine, aim to undertake the following actions:

Current Baseline Assessment: Collaborating with the two Ukrainian stroke societies, a survey will be developed to assess how the war has affected stroke care in terms of access to acute treatment and rehabilitation services. The survey will provide a comprehensive overview of the current situation and establish actionable points for future efforts in Ukraine. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Stroke Awareness Campaign: Recognizing the strain on healthcare services due to the war and the potential decrease in stroke awareness among the general public, an information campaign will be launched. The campaign aims to raise awareness that stroke is a hyperacute emergency and can be successfully treated even during times of conflict. Four videos targeting the general public will be created and disseminated through popular social media channels such as Telegram, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Educational Program for Stroke Neurologists and Physicians: To enhance the knowledge and improve care for Ukrainian stroke patients, the successful webinar series with international speakers will continue. This platform encourages discussion within the Ukrainian stroke community. The educational program consists of three parts:

Part 1: Five neurology departments will receive simulation training and education. Building upon the experiences and training from the Stroke Simulation training in Brno, Czech Republic, the program will include on-site lectures and training by experts.

Part 2: Ten neurologists will be awarded scholarships to visit the five best stroke departments in Ukraine to receive education in acute stroke care. This initiative aims to facilitate learning from the best practices, thereby increasing knowledge and improving treatment of acute stroke in local hospitals.

Part 3: Dr. Pavlo Lebedynets will receive support for his master thesis. This includes covering travel costs to the University of Bern in Switzerland for on-site education and a research visit to Dr. Else Charlotte Sandset at Oslo University Hospital, who will serve as his mentor.

Project Timeline

The project will span from June 2023 to December 2023.

The working group will have an onsite meeting at the 2023 European Stroke Organisation Conference in Munich, Germany.

Expected Results

The project aims to achieve the following outcomes:

Publication on the Current Status of Stroke Care in Ukraine: A publication will be produced, presenting the current state of stroke care in Ukraine and highlighting the impact of the war on stroke care.
Increase in Treatment and Better Outcomes: After implementing the information campaign and educational efforts, a second survey will be conducted. It is anticipated that the results will demonstrate an increase in the utilization of intravenous thrombolysis for stroke treatment and improved outcomes for stroke patients.
Completion of Dr. Pavlo Lebedynets’ Master Thesis: Supporting Dr. Lebedynets’ master thesis, the project will enable him to complete his studies and contribute to the knowledge base in the field of stroke care.
Strengthening of Norwegian-Ukrainian Stroke Communities: The project will foster stronger relationships between the Norwegian and Ukrainian Stroke Communities through meetings and collaborative projects.

Project Participants

All activities will be led by the Ukrainian Stroke societies together with Dr Else Charlotte Sandset, consultant neurologist at Oslo University Hospital, and in close collaboration with the European Stroke Organisation Task Force for Ukraine.

Collaborators in Ukraine:
Ukrainian Anti-Stroke Association (responsible for part 1+2): Yuriy Flomin, Marina Gulyayev
Ukrainian Stroke Medicine Society (responsible for part 3+4): Dmytro Lebedynets, Pavlo Lebedynets

European Stroke Organisation Taskforce for Ukraine:
Francesca Romana Pezzella (Chair), Yuriy Flomin (Co-Chair), Valeria Caso, Hanne Christensen, Robert Mikulik, Else Charlotte Sandset, Dmytro Lebedynets, Marina Gulyayev, Pavlo Lebedynets, Mykhailo Tonchev, Dmitriy Gulyayev

Contact

Please contact the Task Force at the address below if you have a request or can provide assistance: ukrainesupport@eso-stroke.org