IOF Women Leaders Roundtable
IOF has organized two global Roundtables – in Lisbon, Portugal in conjunction with the 2002 IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis and in Toronto Canada prior to the IOF World Congress on Osteoporosis of May 2006.
Detailed information and photos of the First IOF Women Leaders Roundtable.
Detailed information and photos of the Second IOF Women Leaders Roundtable.
Speaking in front of a global audience of journalists, TV and print media, distinguished women from around the world urged policymakers to end suffering and curb the economic burden caused by delaying osteoporosis diagnosis and treatment until after the first bone fracture. Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, host of the first Roundtable, said "Our meeting today draws on women's experiences and insight about the challenges of osteoporosis and the directions we should take. And this is tremendously important because history shows that only when women are active advocates for health care do our concerns get the attention and priority they need in research in developing diagnostic and treatment options and in providing services and covering the costs. Women's leadership is especially important when it comes to osteoporosis because this is a disease where prevention is key and prevention only succeeds when women are directly involved, informed and respected. For millions of families around the world it is the women who have the main role in household diet and other activities like exercise that build healthy bones. It is women who educate daughters.It is women who manage health care for older parents, but women have another important role and that is to spearhead change."
In both 2002 and 2006, the Roundtable participants related their personal reasons for supporting the osteoporosis movement and signed a 'Call for Action' which called on:
Women and men worldwide to:
- Engage in a "bone-friendly" lifestyle, including appropriate exercise programs, nutrition and attention to risk factors
- Insist that their health care professionals provide the best care possible
Healthcare professionals to:
- Improve their knowledge about how their field of specialty relates to osteoporosis
- Spend the time to advise patients about osteoporosis prevention and treatment
Government health officials to:
- Recognize osteoporosis as a health priority
- Pay for bone density scans and improve the availability of bone densitometry machines for people with osteoporosis risk factors before the first fracture.
- Pay for proven therapies for people with osteoporosis before the first fracture.
Several IOF member societies were inspired to hold national 'Roundtables'. These included the Isreali Foundation for Osteoporosis and Bone Diseases (IFOB)which organized a Women's Panel Session in 2002, and the Bulgarian Association 'Women without Osteoporosis' and Lega Italiana Osteoporosi which both organized national Roundtables on the occasion of World Osteoporosis Day 2003.
