Health Minister launches “Know Your Numbers” stroke awareness campaign

A stroke awareness campaign launched by Health Minister Stephen Robertson in Brisbane today will provide up to 10,000 Queenslanders with free blood pressure checks.

Mr Robertson said the National Stroke Foundation “Know Your Numbers” campaign aimed to prevent thousands of Queenslanders suffering preventable strokes each year.

“Stroke is Australia’s second single greatest killer after coronary heart disease, killing more women than breast cancer and costing Australia more than $2 billion every year,” he said.

“This year about 60,000 Australians will suffer new and recurrent strokes, a number that is likely to increase as our population ages.

“It’s important that people take regular blood pressure tests, because high blood pressure is one of the major contributing risk factors for stroke.

“Increased blood pressure testing could prevent more than 19,000 strokes every year.

“That’s why we’re encouraging Queenslander’s to ‘Know Your Numbers’ by getting a blood pressure check during this important campaign.”

Mr Robertson said the Know Your Numbers program would conduct up to 10,000 blood pressure checks throughout Southeast Queensland.

“The program will be conducted through community partnerships with organisations including Rotary, the Pharmacy Guild and the YMCA,” he said.

“There are around 100 pressure stations being set up and each station hopes to conduct 100 tests.”

Mr Robertson said the Bligh Government had provided $1.2 million in funding over three years to the National Stroke Foundation for Queensland-based initiatives aimed at improving stroke awareness.

“We’re also funding the Stroke Association Queensland to the tune of $170,000 a year to run localised programs,” he said.

“The programs include building support groups for people living with stroke, such as carers and their families, and providing education and support services.

“These commitments are a part of our Strategy for Chronic Disease 2005-2015 and reflect our Toward Q2 vision of making Queenslanders Australia’s healthiest people.”

For more information, visit: http://www.strokefoundation.com.au/know-your-numbers

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