SAGAS News

• His Excellency, the Minister of Health, Professor Osamah Bin Abdulmajeed Shobokshi received members of the group in his office on Tuesday 13 August, 2002. The members summarized the objectives and work plans of the group to his Excellency. He was very supportive and gave priceless advise and directions to the members. At the end of the meeting, members expressed their great thanks and gratitude for the time he gave and the support he showed to the group members.The meeting with his Excellency was the most important event for SAGAS since formed.

A photograph of his Excellency, Professor Osamah Shobokshi, Minister of Health in the middle of the group members during the group visit on Tuesday 13 August, 2002

• The International Stroke Society (ISS) called for an organizational meeting to promote the issues of stroke and vascular dementia. The meeting was attended by a large number of national societies, organizations and groups concerned with stroke. The WHO was also invited to attend this meeting. The agenda comprised different issues, particularly focusing on WHO support for the ISS. There was generalized understanding about the importance of creating a World Stroke Federation. The WHO was asked to prepare a separate agenda for stroke. SAGAS volunteered in the educational and guidelines sub-committees.

• SAGAS approached WHO officials during the ISS organizational meeting held in Geneva in May 2002, seeking co-operation and support for a stroke survey program in Saudi Arabia. The WHO has a new survey program, called stroke-steps. South Africa was chosen as a model country to conduct this program. SAGAS received a draft of Stroke-steps and this is currently being studied.

• SAGAS has issued a pocket guide for management of acute ischemic stroke. This is very useful for neurologists, physicians and emergency doctors. It contains protocols for thrombolytic therapy, neuroprotective treatment, blood pressure management and antithrombotic treatment. Also it contains the most widely used neurology scales. Go to the physician pages and get your copy.

• In June 2002, SAGAS members were invited to visit Servier Research Laboratories in Paris. The visit was very interesting and quite fruitful. SAGAS members were impressed by the dedication to the search for active molecules with therapeutic potential. An average of 10 years’ research is required before a new drug to be approved for human use.

• Dr Shareefa Abdool won the May 2002 SAGAS Periodical quiz prize (a text book of Stroke), congratulation. Dr Abdul is from the United Arab of Emirates (U.A.E.) and she is in her final year of neurology training program at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center-Riyadh. She is a mother of three children and she will be the first U.A.E. National Lady Neurologist. Dr Abdul expressed her happiness for winning the prize and wished SAGAS all the luck in its mission against stroke. In return, SAGAS acknowledged her wishes.