Emcure teams up with MS Dhoni for stroke awareness

Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a leading Indian pharmaceutical company, has launched a nationwide public awareness campaign on stroke prevention, featuring cricket icon MS Dhoni.

The campaign encourages people to recognize the signs of stroke, educate others on identifying symptoms, and spread stroke awareness.

Recent studies indicate that more than 1.8 million Indians suffer a stroke annually, making it a leading cause of death and disability in the country. Emcure, committed to improving health outcomes, aims to raise public understanding of stroke symptoms and the critical role of timely medical intervention. Known for his quick decision-making on the field, MS Dhoni is now channeling his instincts to educate the public on the life-saving significance of swift response when stroke symptoms appear.

The campaign centers around the “BEFAST” approach, a memorable acronym designed to help the public identify stroke symptoms promptly:

• B for Balance loss,

• E for sudden Eyesight changes,
• F for Face drooping,
• A for Arm weakness,
• S for Speech difficulties, and

• T stands for Time to call emergency medical services without delay.

Dhoni emphasizes that, just as every second counts in cricket, timely action can be the difference between recovery and long-term disability in a stroke emergency. In the campaign video, he urges everyone to learn these signs and educate at least one other person, ensuring awareness spreads throughout the community.

Dr. N. Ichaporia, a consulting neurologist from Pune, shared the urgency of early intervention: "For each minute a stroke goes untreated, the brain loses approximately 1.9 million cells. Swift care at a capable stroke center drastically improves outcomes. With the growing number of strokes in India, public awareness of early identification and intervention is essential. The BEFAST method is an invaluable tool in achieving this."

This campaign video marks another step in Emcure’s ongoing commitment to community health education and stroke prevention.

Also Read: Emcure Pharma’s "Ace Your Heart" campaign enters Asia Book of Records