Arthritis Foundation of India Trust wins the 'IOF Linda Edwards Memorial Award'
The award recognises commendable work done to increase awareness and knowledge of osteoporosis at the national level
Tweet-- The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), a partner of WHO, has awarded its prestigious ‘IOF Linda Edwards Memorial Award’ to the Arthritis Foundation of India Trust (AFI) from India, one of the 193 IOF member societies from around the world. The award presentation was made during the IOF Worldwide Osteoporosis Society Conference, which took place from September 22-25,2009 in Beijing, China.
The award is named after the late Linda Edwards, a pioneer of osteoporosis advocacy who spearheaded the osteoporosis patient movement, both in the UK and around the world through IOF. The award, valued at 20,000 SFr, approx.9.5lakh in Indian currency, is presented to an IOF member society every two years. The award supports and recognizes the efforts of a growing society which has been carrying out exceptional and creative campaigns to increase awareness and knowledge of osteoporosis among the public and health professionals, while working to improve the care of patients at the national level.
Receiving the award Dr. Sushil Sharma, Chairman, AFI said “We are working to make Bone Health a national programme. Our body of work is public awareness, physician education and lobbying with the Government. We are looking forward for more right thinking people amongst all sections of society who can volunteer support in any of these areas,”
Since its foundation in 2002, AFI has grown into a strong organisation which carries out numerous effective information campaigns and far reaching advocacy initiatives under the slogan “Bone Health – a Right, Realize it”. “In our endeavour to take information about osteoporosis and bone health to the common people, we are creating various communication programmes and are hopeful that people will take full advantage of these programmes and ultimately attain our goal of total Bone Health,” further added Dr Sharma.
At the IOF worldwide conference, an assessment report about epidemiology economic burden and costs of osteoporosis was also discussed. It has been realised on the basis of an Asian information audit that more than 50% of osteoporosis patients will be from Asia in 2020, with India & China taking the maximum economic burden.
IOF, CEO Judy Stenmark was of the view that where as some concrete data is available in the European Union, Australia & USA, the Asian countries don’t have that. Ms. Stenmark also wanted health ministers of various countries of Asia to take strong policy initiatives to fight osteoporosis.
Previous winners of the IOF Linda Edwards Memorial Award include patient societies from Greece (2007); Slovenia (2005); and Romania (2003).