A medical trainer guides a student in recognising and responding to stroke symptoms using the FAST method during a training workshop on October 27. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — Some 300 students and lecturers from the University of Science under the Việt Nam National University - HCM City took part in a training workshop on Monday to learn how to recognise and respond to stroke symptoms.

The training was part of Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam’s nationwide campaign to raise stroke awareness among young people, under the “Recognising Stroke Heroes” programme of the global Angels Initiative, implemented in partnership with the Việt Nam Stroke Association and Xuyên Á General Hospital.

Launched in March, the programme has reached more than 12,000 students across 15 universities, colleges, and high schools nationwide, equipping them with life-saving knowledge and quick-response skills using the FAST acronym (Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency).

Attending the training, a male student said: "The training helped me gain valuable life-saving skills applicable to everyday situations."

At each session, students learn to identify stroke symptoms, respond effectively, and coordinate with the national emergency hotline 115 and the country’s 170 certified stroke-ready hospitals.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Văn Thông, chairman of the Việt Nam Stroke Association, said the initiative was highly practical and essential.

“Stroke can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. Equipping young people with the ability to recognise and act promptly can help save lives — those of friends, family members, or even strangers,” he said.

Trịnh Thị Thu Vân, head of the Medical Department at Boehringer Ingelheim Vietnam, said the company aims to empower young people to become “active contributors in improving the quality of life and stroke care in Việt Nam,” reflecting its long-term commitment to community health and well-being.

Since its introduction in Việt Nam in 2017, the Angels Initiative has helped over 170 hospitals nationwide earn the title of “stroke-ready hospitals” recognised by the Việt Nam Stroke Association.

More than 50 of these hospitals have received international WSO–Angels awards, including Gold, Platinum, and Diamond certifications for treatment quality.

The initiative has also standardised emergency protocols, supported the training of doctors and nurses, and established a pre-hospital emergency network that improves the rate of patients receiving timely treatment within the critical “golden window” of 4.5 hours.

In the coming years, the Angels Initiative Vietnam will continue to expand its outreach to more universities and colleges while strengthening collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Việt Nam Stroke Association to enhance data-driven stroke management through the RES-Q platform.

Students and lecturers from the University of Science attend a stroke awareness and response training workshop held at the University of Science on October 27. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

Global impact

The Angels Initiative is a global programme launched in 2016 by Boehringer Ingelheim in partnership with the World Stroke Organisation (WSO) and the European Stroke Organisation (ESO).

Operating in more than 160 countries, it aims to ensure that every stroke patient has access to the best possible care by connecting hospitals, providing training, and building professional networks.

Since its inception, the programme has reached over 25 million patients and supported 10,000 stroke-ready hospitals worldwide.

Founded in 1885, Boehringer Ingelheim is one of the world’s leading research-driven pharmaceutical companies with around 52,000 employees globally. The company continues to pursue breakthrough innovations to improve health outcomes and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable future. — VNS