Mr. Daniel Navid CEO of the International Osteoporosis Foundation with Dr. Verna Brooks-McKenzie at the Osteoporosis Society meeting in Panama City in November. - Contributed
The first International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) regional meeting for Central America and the Caribbean was convened in Panama City during the launching of World Osteoporosis Day for Latin America under the theme 'Bone appetit'. The focus was on the importance of the role of nutrition in bone health. It was held last November.
Delegates of the osteoporosis societies of Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Panama and Jamaica were invited to present osteoporosis national reports. Group sessions discussed the IOF programme for the region including science and physician training, social movement, patient support and communications.
Recommendations to the programme were made by the delegates attending the meeting.
Laurence Triouleyre of IOF France, read with interest the article titled: 'Osteoporosis: Growing World Problem' by Dr. Verna Brooks-McKenzie founder/president, the Jamaica Osteoporosis Society and published in The Gleaner (Flair October 23, 2006). The article was written to commemorate World Osteoporosis Day, October 18, 2006. That led to Jamaica's invitation to the IOF family member status and IOF Committee of National Societies. Dr. Brooks-McKenzie participated in and presented the national report on the status of osteoporosis in Jamaica.
Future Awareness
Mr. Paul Spencer Sochaczewski, IOF communications adviser, expressed his desire to include Jamaica in future international campaigns to increase public awareness about the disease.
Members of the historic Jamaica bobsled team have since the meeting, been contacted for inclusion into a public service announcement about the importance of not taking risks with bone health along with leading global celebrities. Jamaica can be recognised as a country that is taking a proactive approach to assist in the prevention of osteoporosis and fractures.
Information
Information from the conference revealed that people can live to age 100 years by 2025. There is limited epidemiological information on ethnic differences on the prevalence of osteoporosis in different countries. The average ages of fractures of the wrist, spine and hip are age 60, 70 and 80 years respectively and there are more hip fractures occurring in women than men.
Osteoporosis in populations in the region ranged from 2-16 per cent and it is a concern that this is underestimated. Osteopenia (low bone mass), can occur in over 40 per cent of persons. There are not enough tools to make the diagnosis and the general consensus is to promote prevention which includes the importance of nutrition and exercise. Countries were encouraged to put programmes in place.
Dr. Brooks-McKenzie suggested that this was a good opportunity for osteoporosis societies and the IOF to work in partnership with service clubs such as the Lions, Kiwanis and Rotary. The Lions Club of Hong Kong is currently finalising plans for approval from Lions International to set up Lions osteoporosis clubs. This was given overwhelming support by several South East Asian countries' regional presidents particularly Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.
The Jamaica Osteoporosis Society headed by Dr. Verna Brooks-McKenzie, will be hosting its second symposium on Osteoporosis, May 11-12, at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel.
