Winners of the 2005 IOF-AMGEN Health Professionals Awareness Grants

Beinvernd's new project focuses on improving knowledge of osteoporosis among health professionals working in the nation's primary health care centers. A successful pilot project has shown that this is direct way to reach both physicians and allied health professionals such as nurses, physiotherapists and dietitians. Beinvernd experts will hold seminars on osteoporosis at the clinics ? covering topics such as diagnosis, treatment, patient care and education. The centers will receive educational slides on CD and printed material as well as booklets to distribute to patients who visit the clinics. To ensure long-term effectiveness of the educational campaign, BEINVERND will seek to establish a national network of contact persons in every health care region of the country to promote preventive measures and to ensure continued communication on osteoporosis-related subjects. Communication will be supported by a special website within the BEINVERND website www.beinvernd.is

From left: Neil Hughes, Amgen; Prof. Bjorn Gudjornsson, BEINVERND, Mrs. Halldora Bjornsdottir, BEINVERND, and IOF General Secretary Prof. Jean-Yves Reginster.

The ISBMR's innovative project is aimed at raising awareness of bone health and osteoporosis among medical students. The ISBMR is planning to conduct a 'National Bone Health Quiz' for undergraduates and internees in 40 medical colleges (some 26,300 students) in nine major Indian cities. The first two rounds will comprise a written quiz and will be conducted in the respective cities, while the final, oral round will be organized in New Delhi. All participants will receive educational material on bone health and osteoporosis. The final winners will be given attractive prizes and will receive sponsorship to attend an international meeting on osteoporosis.

The award was accepted by ISBMR officials, Dr. Nikhil Tandon (second from left) and Dr. Ambrish Mithal (far right).

Following a recent national osteoporosis meeting attended by health professionas from across the country, it was decided that a project group needs to be established to undertake full revision of New Zealand's current guidelines on the management of osteoporosis. The aim is to update existing treatment guidelines and disseminate these to all medical general practitioners and physicians. This will ensure that health professionals are aware of recent changes in the management of osteoporosis and will reinforce existing knowledge on the risk factors for osteoporosis. The project is an important step in achieving Osteoporosis New Zealand's ultimate objective: ensuring awareness of the health implications of osteoporosis among 100% of New Zealand's health practitioners by 2010.

Julia Gallagher, chief executive of Osteoporosis New Zealand, accepts the award.