IOF Regional Meetings
IOF holds business meetings for its entire membership twice yearly, usually in conjunction with a scientific congress. However, recognizing the need for smaller forums in which regional issues can be discussed intensively, and in order to reduce travel time and costs for its members, IOF has begun holding occasional regional program planning meetings. Meetings have already been held in Asia, Latin America and Europe.Below is a brief outline of recent regional meetings. Meeting minutes or reports are available on the IOF members only section of the website.
Regional IOF meetings for Latin America and the Caribbean
IOF organized the first meeting of its patient and medical societies in Central
America and the Caribbean in November 2006 in Panama. The meetings were
organized in cooperation with the Panamanian society Fundacion de Osteoporosis
y Enfermedades Metabolicas Oseas (FOSEMO). At the meeting, IOF member societies from Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Panama and Puerto Rico reported on the epidemiologic, social and economic impact of osteoporosis in each country. The delegates were joined by invited representatives of societies from El Salvador, Guatemala, Jamaica and Nicaragua, who also presented national reports.
A central focus was IOF’s ambitious Latin American Program. This program, which will implement projects for science and physician training, patient support, and communications in Latin America, was the subject of group discussions which resulted in conclusions and recommendations from the delegates. IOF’s Latinamerican office, located in Buenos Aires, will be responsible for fundraising and implementation of the program.
Regional IOF meetings for Asia
At the beginning of December 2006 members of the IOF family in Asia gathered in Bangkok, Thailand to discuss and give input to the creation of the IOF Asia Regional Program. The meeting was organized in order to give IOF members in the region the opportunity to help direct IOF’s Asia program, and to ensure that the projects and activities selected reflect their needs in the fight against osteoporosis in Asia. The meeting was held over two days and participants were asked to focus on four important aspects of the IOF work: science, policy, IOF family and communications.
A similar meeting was held in Hong Kong in 2004.
Regional Meetings for Europe
A meeting for European CNS member was held in Vienna in 2006 and one is planned for Porto in March 2007.
