Title(s): Dr
Current Position: Nurse Consultant
Institutional Affiliation: Stroke Action Nigeria
Active Email Address: rita.melifonwu@strokeaction.com
Social Media Handle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritamelifonwu-56960a107/
Telephone Number: +234 701 185 1992
Rita Melifonwu, Nurse Consultant in Stroke Rehabilitation is a strategic stroke advocate. She is the chief executive of Stroke Action Nigeria, a stroke support organization that works to meet the needs of stroke survivors, carers and at-risk people.
As a ‘Leading Social Entrepreneur’ in the field of stroke care, her work is reported on ‘Roots for Change: How Social Entrepreneurs Advance Systems Change in Africa’, and in International Council of Nurses report ‘Voice to Lead’.
Rita is a visiting Senior Research Lecturer at the Faculty of Nursing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Anambra State, Nigeria.
Her drive for quality stroke care has led to national, regional and international collaborations, through which she has gained huge respect for her ability to engage in innovative solutions to improve stroke care.
Rita leads at the forefront of stroke services development and research in community stroke rehabilitation. Her current work focus on replicating Stroke Action’s community-based live after stroke center rehabilitation model locally, regionally, internationally, and in facilitating social participation after stroke.
Rita is an Ashoka Globalizer Fellow, a World Stroke Day Award winner and was nominated for making outstanding contributions in stroke care in World Stroke Academy’s Women in Stroke Series. She is a WSO board member; the Nigerian Champion for OSCAIL (organized stroke care across income levels, and co-chair Case Management, Research and Surveillance NCD TWG, Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria.