Date: Wednesday, 12 October 2005
From: Osteoporosis New Zealand Inc
Title: Osteoporosis New Zealand wins International Award – a Great Lead Up to Osteoporosis Awareness Week
The 17th October 2005 marks the start of Osteoporosis Awareness Week. A major health issue in New Zealand, osteoporosis
causes bones to become brittle and fracture easily, affecting more than half of women and nearly a third of men over the
age of 60.
The direct cost of osteoporotic fractures in New Zealand is over $200 million each year. This is expected to double by
2025, when osteoporosis-related fractures are likely to be the biggest single user of hospital bed days in New Zealand.
Last month, Osteoporosis New Zealand was named an award winner at the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) World
Conference for Patient Societies in Bangkok.
Julia Gallagher, Executive Manager of Osteoporosis New Zealand, says winning the $US10,000 Health Professionals
Awareness Grant will assist with education and providing up to date management information to health professionals – a
vital element in osteoporosis prevention in New Zealand, and a key factor in preventing this projection becoming a
reality.
“There have been a number of recent changes in the treatment of osteoporosis. This award will greatly assist us in
leading a full review and update of New Zealand’s existing osteoporosis treatment guidelines, ensuring all medical
practitioners are aware of these changes, and reinforcing existing knowledge of the risk factors for osteoporosis,” said
Ms Gallagher.
The project is an important step in achieving Osteoporosis New Zealand’s ultimate goal of ensuring awareness of the
health implications of osteoporosis among 100% of New Zealand’s health practitioners.
ENDS
For further information on osteoporosis visit:
www.bones.org.nz
www.osteofound.org
www.everybody.co.nz