World Health Day 2026
Flagship Programme
Stroke Action
Working with healthcare, media, and academic partners to strengthen stroke awareness and preparedness across Odisha and India.
Stroke is a leading cause of preventable death and long-term disability worldwide. In India, awareness of stroke symptoms, the importance of timely treatment, and modifiable risk factors remains low, particularly in underserved communities where information gaps compound existing health disparities. According to recent global estimates, stroke cases have risen by 70% in the last three decades, and the majority are linked to modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes, and lifestyle-related conditions.
IFI Foundation’s Stroke Action programme focuses on strengthening awareness and preparedness across the care continuum, from prevention to emergency response. We do this by working alongside healthcare professionals, researchers, media, academic institutions, and communities through sustained campaigns, conclaves, and public engagement.
As an institutional member of the World Stroke Organization since October 2023, IFI Foundation contributes to a global network working to reduce the burden of stroke.
Global Recognition
Highly Commended by World Stroke Organization
IFI Foundation received a “Highly Commended” distinction at the World Stroke Campaign Awards 2025, recognising the Stroke Mukt Jeevan campaign among the most effective stroke awareness initiatives in the Low and Middle Income Country category. The award, announced in 2026, recognised the impact of our 2025 World Stroke Day campaign across five languages and multiple partner institutions.
Key Initiatives
Stroke Mukt Jeevan (Life Free from Stroke)
Our flagship annual campaign, run each year around World Stroke Day (29 October). Each year, the campaign has grown in scope and depth.
2023
Launched the inaugural Stroke Mukt Jeevan campaign with a multi-week digital and media awareness drive. Hosted a State-Level Media Workshop bringing together journalists from television, print, and digital media. Convened the IFI Foundation Conclave on Stroke, a technical event with policy makers, public health specialists, and healthcare professionals that led to the launch of the IFI Stroke Initiative. Became an institutional member of the World Stroke Organization. Partnered with Swasthya Plus Network and OdishaLIVE for expert-led stroke literacy content.
2024
Extended the campaign duration with broader partner engagement, deeper focus on stroke prevention messaging, and increased media coverage and community participation.
2025
Stroke Mukt Jeevan 3.0: Awareness to Action. The 2025 iteration marked a significant expansion under the theme “Every Minute Counts, #ActFAST”, moving from a regional Odia effort to a multi-lingual pan-India programme across English, Odia, Hindi, Marathi, and Bengali.
- Youth engagement programmes at RDWU and Berhampur University (300+ students each)
- Digital Poster-Making Competition on World Stroke Day
- Expert video series and survivor stories
- New partnerships with TiE Bhubaneswar and the Utkal Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Spot Stroke, Save Lives (2026)
Launched on World Health Day 2026 at U.N. College, Adaspur, Spot Stroke, Save Lives is a six-month statewide youth campaign to build community-level stroke recognition. The campaign introduces the Stroke Spotters component, training young people to act as first responders in their families and communities through on-ground sessions, multilingual digital outreach, and academic partnerships. The campaign uses the BE-FAST method below to teach stroke recognition.
The BE-FAST Method
BE-FAST is a clinical mnemonic developed in US stroke centres and adopted widely as a first-responder teaching tool. It is used by the American Stroke Association and other stroke bodies internationally.
B
Balance
—Sudden loss of balance or coordination
E
Eyes
—Sudden change in vision in one or both eyes
F
Face
—One side of the face droops when asked to smile
A
Arms
—One arm drifts downward when both are raised
S
Speech
—Speech is slurred or sounds different
T
Time
—Time to call emergency services immediately
Partners
Our stroke awareness work is made possible by a growing network of healthcare, research, academic, and ecosystem partners.
| Organisation | Role |
|---|---|
| World Stroke Organization | Global institutional membership |
| ICMR RMRC Bhubaneswar | Knowledge partner |
| IPHA | Knowledge partner |
| PHFI | Knowledge partner |
| CARE Hospitals | Healthcare partner |
| Apollo Hospitals Bhubaneswar | Healthcare partner |
| Rama Devi Women’s University | Academic partner (MoU) |
| Berhampur University | Academic partner (MoU) |
| TiE Bhubaneswar | Ecosystem partner (2025) |
| Utkal Chamber of Commerce & Industry | Ecosystem partner (2025) |
| Swasthya Plus Network | Content & distribution partner |
| OdishaLIVE | Media partner |
Impact Highlights
| Campaigns | 3 annual World Stroke Day campaigns (2023, 2024, 2025) plus Spot Stroke, Save Lives (2026) |
| Events | IFI Foundation Conclave on Stroke (2023), State Level Media Workshop (2023), Digital Poster-Making Competition (2025), Spot Stroke Save Lives Youth Programme (2025) |
| University Reach | 600+ students across 2 universities |
| Languages | 5 (Odia, English, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali) from 2025 onwards |
| Global Network | Member of the World Stroke Organization. Highly Commended at the World Stroke Campaign Awards 2025 (LMIC category, awarded 2026). |
Videos
Campaign films and event highlights that show how Stroke Action moves from public health information to youth and community engagement.
World Stroke Day 2024
ବ୍ରେନ୍ ଷ୍ଟ୍ରୋକ୍: କାହିଁକି ବଢୁଛି? କେମିତି ରୋକିବେ? | Brain Stroke Guide, in Odia | World Stroke Day
World Stroke Day 2024
IFI Foundation hosted a Youth Awareness Program on Stroke titled 'Spot Stroke, Save Lives'
Reports & Documentation
Annual campaign reports from our stroke programme, documenting activities, partnerships, and outcomes.
Partner with Us on Stroke Action
Whether you are a hospital, university, media house, or community organisation, we welcome collaboration to strengthen stroke awareness and preparedness.
Get in Touch