With the recent commemoration of World Stroke Day, Life Healthcare’s stroke restore programme is shining a light on what it takes to save not just lives, but livelihoods — reminding residents that recovery from a stroke is a battle fought on two fronts: against time and for quality of life.
Strokes change thousands of lives each year. Behind every recovery lies a race against time — and a team working as one.
This demonstrates that saving a life means more than speed; it’s about restoring function, dignity and hope.
It often begins subtly — a slurred word, a dropped cup, or a hand that won’t lift. In that moment, time becomes the fiercest competitor.
When it comes to a stroke, every minute counts; not only for survival, but for the quality of life that follows.
“A stroke can strike anyone, anytime,” Life Healthcare chief executive: life rehabilitation Dr Paul Soko said.
“The first race is against time; the second, for recovery. How we respond — as individuals, families, and healthcare systems — determines both.”
He said every hour, around 10 South Africans experience a stroke.
A 2021 BMJ (a global healthcare knowledge provider) open study identified stroke as the second leading cause of death after HIV/Aids, and the leading cause of adult disability in the country.
Yet public awareness remains low.
“A stroke is a clinical diagnosis anyone can make. You don’t have to be a doctor to recognise it,” Soko said.
“The face dropping, arms weakness, speech difficulty and time to act (FAST — face, arms, speech, time) checklist is the simplest tool to recognise early warning signs.
“Too many lives are lost to hesitation — delays in seeking treatment, doubting symptoms, or hoping they’ll improve overnight. It is rarely kind to a brain under attack.”
Recognising a stroke is only the first step. Once the hospital doors open, survival and recovery depend on precision and co-ordination.
Soko said at Life Healthcare this is achieved through the stroke restore programme — an integrated model of care where emergency clinicians, neurologists, radiographers, nurses, and therapists work together using internationally benchmarked protocols such as the angels’ initiative.
Each hospital tracks “door-to-needle” times and treatment outcomes through the ResQ data platform, ensuring speed translates into measurable improvements. “Every second is measured, because every second matters.
“What truly sets the programme apart is teamwork. Multidisciplinary teams — from physiotherapists and occupational therapists to dietitians, psychologists, and social workers — meet regularly to review each patient’s progress using the UK FIM/FAM (functional independence measure and functional assessment measure) scoring system.
“Saving a life is the first victory; restoring it is the second. Rehabilitation often begins within hours of stabilisation.”
He said Life Healthcare facilities, early mobilisation, speech therapy and cognitive exercises start as soon as possible. Families are also involved from the outset — they are trained to communicate, support and adapt to new realities.
“Recovery is not only physical but also emotional and social. A 2024 review across Life Healthcare’s rehabilitation centres showed a 38% improvement in functional scores (FIM+FAM) over an average 32-day stay — with even severe stroke patients showing faster functional gains than industry averages.
“These results show what’s possible when rehabilitation is continuous, structured, and patient-centred.”
Most strokes are preventable.
Conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol — the so-called “silent killers” — are major risk factors that can be managed or reversed.
“We’re seeing hypertension in younger adults. Diet and exercise aren’t lifestyle choices anymore; they’re prescriptions.”
Stroke care is a shared responsibility — a partnership between awareness and action, data and compassion, individuals and healthcare systems.
Too many lives are lost to hesitation — delays in seeking treatment, doubting symptoms, or hoping they’ll improve overnight. It is rarely kind to a brain under attack.
