Spot Stroke, Save Lives: Empowering Youth to Lead Odisha’s New Health Movement

On World Health Day, IFI Foundation partnered with UN (Auto) College, Adaspur, to host a youth-led stroke awareness campaign, empowering the next generation of public health changemakers.

Every year, strokes claim millions of lives and cause severe, lifelong disabilities. Yet, with early recognition and timely action, many of these outcomes can be prevented. To raise awareness and drive action, the IFI Foundation, a proud member of the World Stroke Organization, marked World Health Day (7 April 2026) by hosting its flagship campaign: “Spot Stroke, Save Lives.”

Organised in collaboration with the N.S.S. Units of U.N. (Autonomous) College of Science and Technology, Adaspur, Cuttack (Odisha), the event brought together educators, healthcare professionals, and student leaders to discuss how communities can work together to build a stroke-aware society.

The Power of Youth: Nurturing “Stroke Spotters”

This year’s initiative is built on a simple idea: young people can drive real change. By training students to recognise the early warning signs of stroke, we are building a generation of ”Stroke Spotters”, informed and responsible citizens committed to a healthier, stroke-free society.

During the launch, Nilambar Rath, Co-Chair of IFI Foundation, emphasised that young people hold the key to lasting change. Equipping them with life-saving knowledge, he said, is one of the most effective ways to ensure timely action and reduce the burden of stroke in their communities.

This sentiment was echoed throughout the event:

Dr. Lulumina Dash, Principal of U.N. (Autonomous) College, spoke about the role of young people as drivers of social change. She appreciated IFI Foundation’s efforts in raising awareness among youth on such a critical public health issue.

Dr. Hiranmayee Mishra, Administrative Bursar, emphasised that meaningful public health action begins with engaging young people. She welcomed the students’ participation and encouraged them to be ambassadors in their communities, carrying stroke awareness far and wide.

Harihar Sahoo, N.S.S. Programme Officer, recognised the students as ambassadors who can carry this life-saving awareness directly into their homes and neighbourhoods.

“Today’s youth are not merely learners but influential changemakers who can drive awareness on stroke within families and communities. IFI Foundation’s ‘Spot Stroke, Save Lives’ program is a highly commendable initiative that actively encourages and empowers students.” said** Dr. Maya Gantayet, Neurologist**, who joined the event as Guest Speaker. She interacted with students, answered their questions, and walked them through the BE-FAST formula for recognising stroke symptoms.

Event Highlights & Collaborative Spirit

The campaign included an audio-visual module on stroke recognition and management, along with campaign newsletters designed for wider outreach.

A key moment of the day was the Stroke Awareness Pledge, where students, faculty, and participants committed to becoming lifelong stroke advocates.

The event saw active participation from Pranati Parida, Co-Chair of IFI Foundation, and Sujata Mishra, IQAC Coordinator, UN College. The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Himani Pani, coordination by **Sitansu Sekhar Sutar **(Swasthya Plus), and excellent anchoring by **Priyanka Sucharita **(IFI Foundation).

This collaboration was made possible by our partners: U.N. (Autonomous) College (Academic Partner),OdishaLIVE and Swasthya Plus Network (Outreach Partners), and The Utkal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Limited (UCCIL) and TiE Bhubaneswar (Industry Partners).

On World Health Day, the IFI Foundation, a member of the World Stroke Organisation, launched its flagship campaign, "Spot Stroke, Save Lives" at U.N. (Autonomous) College of Science & Technology, Adaspur, aiming to build a generation of young "Stroke Spotters" trained to… pic.twitter.com/NAfs5CpMzZ— IFI Foundation (@IFIFoundation) April 7, 2026

The Road Ahead: A 6-Month Statewide Campaign

The World Health Day launch is just the beginning. It marks the start of a six-month statewide campaign across Odisha, which will culminate on World Stroke Day (October 29, 2026). Now in its fourth year, the IFI Stroke Initiative continues to expand its digital and on-ground outreach, hosting media workshops, conclaves, and university engagement programmes.

More than a series of events, this is a sustained effort to make stroke awareness part of everyday life, encourage healthy habits, and promote preventive action. With the support of Swasthya Plus Network, the programme will go multilingual across digital platforms, reaching and engaging a diverse audience across India.

IFI Foundation works in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), hosting activities that bring social impact to the forefront. Through partnerships with educational institutions, we connect young people with pressing development challenges and encourage them to become changemakers in their communities.

Together, we are working towards a future where every person knows how to act fast, respond right, and save lives.