Students from the College of Medicine at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU) have organised a comprehensive awareness campaign on strokes at the Avenues Mall over the weekend. The campaign, which saw broad participation from specialists from both public and private hospitals, aimed to raise public awareness about the causes of strokes and how to prevent them, in addition to providing medical check-ups and advice for visitors to the mall.  

The campaign focused on clarifying risk factors that increase the likelihood of experiencing a stroke, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, smoking and lack of physical activity. It also highlighted the importance of adhering to healthy lifestyle choices, including balanced nutrition, regular exercise and quitting smoking.  

Specialists from various government and private hospitals participated in the campaign, offering free medical examinations for visitors, including blood pressure measurements, blood sugar tests, and cholesterol level checks. They also provided personal consultations on how to reduce risk factors and maintain vascular health.  

Doctors were keen to educate the public about early symptoms that may precede strokes, such as sudden and severe headaches, loss of balance or sensation, difficulty speaking or understanding speech, and sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body. They stressed the need to seek immediate emergency care upon the emergence of these symptoms, as rapid intervention plays a crucial role in minimising complications and improving recovery chances.  

Visitors to the Avenues Mall praised the campaign, expressing appreciation for the efforts made by students and specialists. One female visitor commented: “This initiative was a wonderful opportunity to learn about how to prevent strokes, especially as it offered free medical check-ups and practical advice.”  

Ms. Shaikha Ahmed Al Duwaisan, the head of the organising committee for the campaign, explained that the campaign is part of a series of initiatives aimed at promoting public health and raising community awareness about chronic diseases and prevention methods. She noted that the collaboration between the university students and the doctors from public and private hospitals reflects the integrated efforts of the educational and health sectors to serve the Bahraini and Gulf community. At the same time, she expressed gratitude towards the strategic partner of the campaign, Avenues Mall the platinum sponsor National Bank of Kuwait, the gold sponsor Bahrain Specialist Hospital, and all other sponsors who contributed to the success of the awareness campaign.  

It is worth noting that the awareness campaign was organised under the supervision of Dr Alaa Elmazny, Consultant Neurologist and Assistant Professor in the Internal Medicine Department at AGU, and Dr Mahmoud Al Hossam, Neurology Specialist, in partnership with various community sectors. A total of 185 medical students participated in the campaign over the two days, divided into groups and interactive stations that began with receiving visitors and included stations on the causes of strokes, stroke symptoms, prevention methods, and treatment. A station was also designated for measuring blood pressure and blood sugar levels for visitors, and the event concluded with a competition station and gift distribution. The total number of visitors attending the campaign reached 500.