East London NHS Foundation Trust / The National University of Lesotho: Cerebrovascular Accident – Stroke

“Phela u Phelise” meaning live and help others live is a pioneering nurse‑led, community‑based stroke prevention and management initiative delivered by the National University of Lesotho’s Department of Nursing in partnership with East London NHS Foundation Trust.  

Funded through the Burdett Trust for Nursing, the programme set out to tackle the rising burden of stroke in the Berea district by empowering nurses, Village Health Workers (VHWs), and communities with the knowledge and skills needed to prevent, recognise, and respond to stroke. 

Implemented between November 2024 and October 2025, the project followed a structured three‑phase approach: assessing baseline community and nurse knowledge; developing an evidence‑based intervention tailored to the local context; and delivering wide‑reaching education, screening and behaviour‑change activities across multiple villages. Using a cascade model, Stroke Prevention Champions trained an unprecedented 879 VHWs, far exceeding the initial target of 180 and ensuring almost universal village‑level coverage. 

The results demonstrate remarkable impact. Registered nurses showed significant improvements in stroke‑related knowledge, clinical practice and confidence. Community awareness soared, with knowledge of stroke signs, causes and risk factors rising across all measures. Health‑seeking behaviour and lifestyle choices improved substantially, supported by 28 newly established health promotion teams. Activities included household screenings, lifestyle counselling, community gatherings, church outreach and public awareness marches bringing prevention directly to people’s doorsteps. 

Despite challenges such as remote terrain, resource limitations and logistical delays, the project reached over 118,000 people and established a strong foundation for sustainable, community‑driven stroke prevention in Lesotho.