Community stories

Doctors from the first two hospitals in Iraq to receive international recognition for stroke care excellence share their stories.

A chance encounter at this year's WSC revealed the magic of the Angels community, writes Jan van der Merwe in this year's final edition of The Angels Journey.

The three districts that make up Khmelnytska Oblast weren’t obvious candidates to become Ukraine’s first Angels Regions – but proactive leadership and purposeful community building ensured their place in the record books.

In November 2024, the mission to change the reality for stroke patients around the world finally put down roots in East Africa. For Angels cofounder and global project leader Jan van der Merwe it was the realization of a longheld dream. For the stroke communities in Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Ethiopia, it was only the beginning.

Throwback to Basel, where Angels team leaders Rita Rodrigues and Sylvia Ripamonti talked about the early days, anxious moments, changing roles and new responsibilities.

The story of Shija Hospitals and the Angels Initiative stands as a beacon of hope—a testament to what can be achieved when healthcare systems are optimized, communities work together, and lives are prioritized.