Women Leaders Call for Global Action on Osteoporosis

Women Leaders Call for Global Action on Osteoporosis

June 05, 2006

    TORONTO, June 5 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Nine prominent
women from around the world today called for action by
government policy makers, health professionals and
individuals to fight the silent epidemic of osteoporosis.

    "We are here because osteoporosis is a major
global problem and it is time to get people to stand up and
speak out on this serious disease," said Justine Pasek,
a speaker at the event, whose statement reflected the tone
of the gathering. For complete texts from all the speakers
see:  http://www.osteofound.org/wco/2006/media_centre.php
.

    The women were speaking at the 2nd IOF Women Leaders
Roundtable, held in conjunction with the IOF World Congress
on Osteoporosis in Toronto.

    Moderator: Dr Marla Shapiro, Canada, associate
professor University of Toronto, Family and Community
Health, family physician, TV and print journalist

    Australia: Maxine McKew, journalist, TV host, patron of
Osteoporosis Australia

    Canada: Maureen McTeer, medical law specialist, human
rights advocate, author, patron of Osteoporosis Canada

    China: Alice Chiu, prominent philanthropist, founder
and director, Sheen Hok Charitable Foundation, Hong Kong

    Italy: Lella Costa, theatre actress, osteoporosis
advocate

    Panama: Justine Pasek, Miss Universe 2002, patron of
Fundacion de Osteoporosis y Enfermedades Metabolicas Oseas
(Panama Osteoporosis Foundation)

    United Kingdom: Baroness Julia Cumberlege, member House
of Lords, former UK health minister, prominent osteoporosis
advocate

    USA: Peggy Fleming, Olympic Gold Medalist and former
world champion in figure skating, TV sports analyst,
osteoporosis advocate

    USA: Dr Ethel Siris, president of National Osteoporosis
Foundation (USA), IOF Board member

    In their Call to Action, the women urged:

    Women and men worldwide to:

    - Engage in a "bone-friendly" lifestyle,
including appropriate exercise 
      programs, nutrition and attention to risk factors

    Health care professionals to:

    - Improve their knowledge about how their field of
specialty relates to 
      osteoporosis

    Government health officials to:

    - Recognize osteoporosis as a health priority

    - Pay for bone density scans for people with
osteoporosis risk factors 
      before the first fracture.

    - Pay for proven therapies for people with osteoporosis
before the first 
      fracture. 

    Osteoporosis is one of the world's most prevalent and
debilitating chronic diseases, affecting one out of three
women over 50 worldwide, more than breast cancer.

    http://www.osteofound.org

    For more information, please contact:

     Andrew Leopold 
     Weber Shandwick Worldwide Toronto
     Tel:   [phone]
     Cell:  [phone]
     Email: [e-mail]

     Andrew Leopold 
     Weber Shandwick Worldwide
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail] 

SOURCE  International Osteoporosis Foundation