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The Conference of patients with osteoporosis societies in Helsinki

     In Helsinki (30 May-3 June 2013, Finland) hosted the Conference of NGOs patients with osteoporosis. Of the 45 countries in the world have gathered at her 140 volunteers and professionals from 53 companies. Health care systems of many countries are imperfect, and patients believe that the protection of rights to quality healthcare, disease prevention at the state level and the system to communicate with each other, they need to unite. This requires improving the activity.

        The initiator of an international meeting was hosted by the World Association Against Osteoporosis IOF (headquartered in Switzerland). It includes more than 15 years, the Russian Association for the fight against osteoporosis (President - Professor Olga Lesnyak from Yekaterinburg) patients and society "Osteorus" (Head - Prof. Olga Ershov from Yaroslavl).

      The conference was full of interesting reports containing rare statistics. This allowed comparison of the situation of the disease in different countries, exchange experiences. Also, specialists trained in survival skills Societies patients in a pragmatic world, and conducted workshops for groups

  Director General of IOF Judy Stenmark urged to use the collective strength to fight osteoporosis, causing serious health problems - fractures of the hip, spine, forearm, etc., which can be fatal in the elderly. UK Baroness Judith Jolly, a member of the House of Lords and an active supporter of the IOF, expressed the hope that the conference will unite patients and health care professionals in promoting the prevention of disease. After all, the modern world is changing rapidly and effective preventive work is possible if ahead of the trend.

   Sirpa Rietikanen, Finnish representative in the European Parliament, said that organizations need to shift the focus of activities to inform the public through the media and educational work. Through the media people will learn about the social aspect of the disease, the prevention of which should begin during the period of conception. The bulk of osteoporosis are women, and most of all, they literally die from the severe consequences of osteoporosis fractures of the bones of the skeleton.

 The conference theme voiced by the annual celebration of the World Day to combat osteoporosis as a reminder of the information society of the grave danger of the disease.

 Barbara Lyuba, a Finnish journalist who told me it reflects the theme in their programs, blogs, social networking. She personally set an example - leads an active life, studying dance, and her relief figure - the best agitator thesis that if you want you can achieve a lot, to involve the family to the sport and to forget about the pills.

       British activist Mary Baker focused on the aging of Europes population. This applies to Russia, too. The development of this disease affects the changed lifestyle of modern man diet. People no longer work, a little rest and play sports, eat foods with chemical additives. It does not pass completely healthy. According to forecasts of British women, the effects of osteoporosis in old age in the next few years will be relevant to many countries. She also reported a fairly high percentage of counterfeit drugs. Often, the elderly and immobilized fractures experiencing suffering that lead to death, it is a problem for relatives who may not have the means to cure.

    Theme of master classes meet the demands of time. At one made recommendations to raise funds for community-based initiatives. According to Karine Klein (Switzerland), there are many ways and there is no pattern, each country has its own mentality and attitude to donate to a public organization. I must say that in our country, many ways that are habitual in the world and give a good result, just do not work.

         In the area of ??promotion of the theme in the media seminar held Gilberto Lontro (Switzerland). He urged the use of modern media, social networking, blogging and create accounts, the opportunities of social advertising. But notice that the site is needed as a basis source of subject matter, but a social network as a free way to communicate with a wide range of people, more operational. According to his observations of the traditional format of the media aspects of education are increasingly moving into the area of ??social networks, share media content is growing every year. But to give up the "paper" media should not be: a large proportion of patients with osteoporosis - are elderly people who have vision problems and their traditional look familiar media.

  The organizers held a master class in tai chi. This eastern gymnastics is most useful for patients with osteoporosis, which is clinically proven. Representatives of societies taught techniques Nordic walking (walking Norwegian). With this type of group fitness strengthens muscles that affect overall health, contributing to the strengthening of muscular frame. Suitable for all ages.

The representatives of Greece said that an emphasis on working with young people and prevention. In Bulgaria regularly conduct surveys of patients to understand which topics to develop. They jointly with municipal authorities congratulate the 50-year-olds: send out a postcard on behalf of society and remind about the health care system, including the state of their bones. In this case, the municipal authority pays the postage. They also visit nursing homes, engage in popularizing the ideas of well-known and financially self-sufficient women in her country.

In Jordan, mainly social activists are working with students by giving lectures and acquaint with the opinions of experts, tell stories of patients, conduct tasting healthy products. Students are oriented to a healthy and active life - dancing, yoga. Under the auspices of the society created in a short period of 10 sports teams.

In Japan, lecturing educational project to prevent osteoporosis rastirazhirovali across the country in a short period of time. For the 20th anniversary of the Society released a special candy in the form of seeds and distributed to the public. "Laughter prolongs life" - this statement is widely used in the Japanese and the fight against osteoporosis. Therefore, they often use a funny action.

    In Thailand (society interacts with geographic neighbors - Japan, Philippines) three times a year, conduct seminars, and training courses for professionals - once a year. The campaign - a campaign against osteoporosis from year to year is becoming more popular. Last year, the campaign came a half thousand people.

  Philippines cooperate on its website with Bogot?, Colombia, Australia, and Japan. The number of visitors is growing.

    In Slovenia there are 40 bone mineral density, allowing devices to measure bone mineral density. By the way, in Russia there are only about a hundred pieces, and almost half are in the capital. Pharmaceutical companies in their countries signed a contract with the company and patients do discounts for members of the public. If the survey costs 40 euros, consisting in the community patient receives a diagnosis for 30 euros. The Company helps seniors find sponsors for treatment. Joint replacement surgery is done by the insurance system for free and all are fitted with identical modern implants. We - the insurance put domestic, for the money - you can choose others.

       In Israel, the company operates with the support of the Ministry of Health: given the room rate paid manager, secretary. There is a membership fee -10 euros per year. They hold seminars to educate, give lectures to medical personnel.

         In Serbia, the public actively took up the achievement of free treatment for osteoporosis. Head of the Society has collected thousands of signatures of patients, and they forced the payment for treatment in a system of free health insurance.

        In Norway, the organization is working on a volunteer conditions. There is a small entrance fee. If a person is diagnosed with osteoporosis, it would give the social compensation from the budget. They work on the principle of contact members of society with each other, the patient reported a nearby branch of society, help advice, instruct. Many patients - older people and even telephone communication is very helpful to them. Business community of patients in this country does not help. It is believed that the lack of social guarantees to citizens of the state to which the business pays high taxes.

      In Finland, the situation is not easy, manages the company nurse from Lapland on a volunteer basis. Government support is negligible. Also not easy in India, where the problem is quite acute disease.

       Communication with participants from the former socialist countries and the CIS took place in the Russian, as this generation has studied the language in school. System of government in these countries were similar, and therefore the problems were almost identical. It is possible that this is a good argument for closer cooperation.

     At the conference, representatives of the Icelandic Osteoporosis Society handed over the letter "For the best page on Facebook," and the Greek society - "For the best media campaign." Of particular note was taken of the Israeli and Palestinian societies - "For high-value projects."

    The state should take an active part in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. In this case, the resources of public medicine often do not work on the prevention of the disease. In Russia there is no understanding on the part of the authorities to provide free medicines, are not stimulated the development of improved domestic prostheses, etc. Only together, patients and physicians will be able to obtain from the government the right to comprehensive support their needs in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and its complications.

    Global best practices will certainly be useful in the practice of the Russian Society of patients Osteorus. " According to Professor Olga Pugacheva Ershovoy, the public should lobby for their right to free prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. It is necessary to increase the fleet of modern densitometers, to make them more accessible to the regions. Funds of obligatory medical insurance should fully work on the needs of the society, including patients with osteoporosis and the effects of the disease - fractures.

"This year will the new format of the World Day to combat osteoporosis, which will be held in October - said the head of the" Osteorus "Olga Ershov. - We will use the recommendations IOF. This year the theme of the event focused on the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, education of citizens and the interaction with the authorities and the media. The motto proposed by IOF, translated into Russian in the version of "Strong women - strong bones." Brought coaches tai chi and race walking, hold a master class for participants of the round table and press tour. Our goal - is human health, saving it from the "silent" killer, ie osteoporosis. Having carefully studied the experience of other countries that have come to the conclusion that we are closer to the social experience of filling Norway. Therefore invited representatives of the Norwegian Society of patients on Russian Conference centers for the prevention of osteoporosis and the Russian Congress on Osteoporosis with international participation, which will be held in November to learn more about future actions. "

"Osteorus" invites everyone to dialogue, who are interested in the prevention of osteoporosis topic. Society is open to patients with patients, working with journalists and representatives of business, political and administrative circles.

Victoria Sotskova