News Release

Bulgarian society awarded 2011 IOF Linda Edwards Memorial Award

International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) recognizes the exceptional work of the Association 'Women without Osteoporosis'

Grant and Award Announcement

International Osteoporosis Foundation

The Association 'Women without Osteoporosis' of Bulgaria has been announced the winner of the 2011 IOF Linda Edwards Memorial Award. The award was presented by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) on the occasion of the IOF World Wide Conference of Osteoporosis Patient Societies in Valencia, Spain.

The award, presented every two years, is named after the late Linda Edwards, a pioneer of osteoporosis advocacy who spearheaded the osteoporosis patient movement both in the UK as director of the National Osteoporosis Society, and through her active role within the IOF. The unrestricted award (valued at 20,000 SFr) supports and recognizes the work of a relatively 'young' and growing national patient society which has carried out exceptional campaigns to increase awareness, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis among the public and health professionals, while working to improve the care of patients.

"We are proud to present this prestigious award to the Association 'Women without Osteoporosis' in recognition of the extraordinary work carried out by the Association and its dedicated volunteers, " said IOF CEO Patrice McKenney.

Since its foundation in 1998 the Association 'Women without Osteoporosis' has been involved in various successful nationwide initiatives to improve the care of osteoporosis patients in Bulgaria through health professional education, public awareness and advocacy efforts. It has worked to bring osteoporosis and patient rights to media attention, carried out annual World Osteoporosis Day campaigns and, in 2009, campaigned successfully to raise the reimbursement level for osteoporosis medications. The Association, which is also actively involved within IOF and at the European level, is currently planning an initiative to improve risk awareness and assessment among residents of nursing homes.

Previous winners of the IOF Linda Edwards Memorial Award include patient societies from India (2009), Greece (2007); Slovenia (2005); and Romania (2003).

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About Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, in which the bones become porous and break easily, is one of the world's most common and debilitating diseases. The result: pain, loss of movement, inability to perform daily chores, and in some cases, death. Worldwide, one out of two women over 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures, as will one out of five men Osteoporosis can, to a certain extent, be prevented, if it can be easily diagnosed and effective treatments are available. Nevertheless, osteoporosis often remains under-diagnosed and under-treated, leaving people at unnecessary risk of fracture.

About the IOF

The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is a not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization dedicated to the worldwide fight against osteoporosis, the disease known as "the silent epidemic". IOF's members - scientific researchers, patient, medical and research societies and industry representatives from around the world - share a common vision of a world without osteoporotic fractures. IOF, with headquarters in Switzerland, currently includes 196 member societies in 92 countries, regions and territories. Among its numerous programmes and activities, IOF mobilises the global osteoporosis movement on World Osteoporosis Day every year and organises the IOF World Wide Conference of Osteoporosis Patient Societies every two years. For more information about IOF visit http://www.iofbonehealth.org


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