IOF-Novartis Strong Bones Academy Grants
IOF’s CNS members, who play a vital role in osteoporosis advocacy, are most often working with limited resources and volunteer staff who have limited experience in running a nongovernmental organization (NGO).The IOF-Novartis Strong Bones Academy Grants are an evolution of the successful IOF Targeted Support and Twinning programs. The idea of the IOF-Novartis Strong Bones Academy Grants is simple: support capacity building training through intensive and professionally-run workshops/training/ mentoring that help the national osteoporosis society become more professional and effective.
Three grants of US$14,000 each were awarded in December 2007 at the IOF World Wide Conference of Osteoporosis Patient Societies in Miami, USA. The grants will be used to pay for the services of the professional trainers, for hiring meeting rooms, meals, travel if necessary, hotel rooms for out of town participants and local coordination.
2007 winners of the IOF-Novartis Strong Bones Academy Grants
Brazil
National Federation of Osteoporosis Patients Associations (FENAPCO)
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| From left: IOF Board Member and FENAPCO CEO Rubem Lederman; IOF President Pierre D. Delmas; Suely Roitman president of FENAPCO; and Stephan Korte of Novartis |
Summary of winning project:
FENAPCO, a national federation which works with other osteoporosis organizations in Brazil, intends to carry out a program called ‘Talent Bank’ as part of their three-year strategy. The objective is to identify and train talented professionals as volunteers to assist FENAPCO and related organizations in their work. The IOF-Novartis Strong Bones Academy Grant will go towards the organization and logistics of a three-day strategic workshop to train the first group of ‘monitors’. The monitors, based in Rio de Janiero, will also guide and advise osteoporosis organizations in different Brazilian states. Subjects to be discussed at the workshop include the IOF global movement, leadership, governance, structure, positioning, developing a three-year program, communications strategies, fundraising, patient support and policy.
Israel
Israeli Foundation for Osteoporosis and Bone Diseases (IFOB)
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| Irit Inbar (center) of IFOB accepts award from IOF President P.D. Delmas (left) and Stephan Korte of Novartis |
Summary of winning project:
Recognizing that osteoporosis self-help groups are an important component of successful disease management, the IFOB would like to develop a new model for self-help group training and then publicize the benefits of self-help groups to patients across the country.
The program will be developed with strategic partners like the Israeli Association for Self-help Groups, the Center for Volunteers and various hospitals, nurses and social workers. As a first step, the IFOB will use its grant to organize a two-day “Train-the-trainer” session for 25 self-help group leaders from different IFOB branches across the country. A PR agency will then be selected to help stage a self-help group media campaign around World Osteoporosis Day 2008. Following this campaign, the society aims to move ahead towards the creation of new self-help groups in the period from November to December 2008.
Vietnam
Vietnam Rheumatology Association (VRA)
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| From left to right: Prof Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan, secretary of VRA; Dr Tran Thi To Chau, member of VRA;.Prof. Tran Ngoc An, president of VRA; Prof Vu Thi Thanh Thuy, representative of VRA at IOF;.PhD Tran Thi Minh Hoa, member of commitee of VRA. |
Summary of winning project:
Osteoporosis in Vietnam is increasing due to the fact that the standard of living is improving and people are now living longer. Despite the VRA’s successful past work in teaching and public outreach, there is still a huge deficit in overall awareness and knowledge as well as in diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis. For example, although Vietnam has a population of around 85 million people, there are only 10 DXA machines in the entire country. In order to improve its effectiveness in meeting the serious challenges ahead, the VRA would like to gain new professional skills on three fronts:
a) raising awareness of osteoporosis risk and preventive lifestyle factors in adults and youth;
b) improving the education of health professionals across various disciplines;
c) working with government officials, particularly the Ministry of Health, in order to make osteoporosis a national health priority.
