Boning up on the battle against osteoporosis
MANILA, Philippines - Fonterra and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) awarded the Osteoporosis Society of the Philippines Foundation (OSPFI) with the first IOF-Anlene Nutrition Awareness for Bone Health Campaign Grant this week in Spain. Presented at the IOF Worldwide Conference of Osteoporosis Patient Societies in Valencia, this award aims to support the work of the OSPFI to improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of osteoporosis in the Philippines.
The IOF-Anlene Nutrition Awareness for Bone Health Campaign Grant is part of an ongoing partnership between Fonterra and the IOF, aimed at promoting awareness of osteoporosis across the region. “This is the first time we have awarded such a grant in the region and the number and quality of entries that the IOF received was impressive. This demonstrates that there is a real desire in Asia to build upon existing programs and develop new capabilities around osteoporosis awareness, its detection and treatment. At Fonterra, we see this as another step in the right direction in the battle against osteoporosis,” says Joanne Todd, senior health platform manager, Fonterra Brands Asia and Middle East.
Research findings by the International Osteoporosis Foundation Asian Audit 2009 which was supported by Fonterra showed that the average dietary calcium intake for adults in the Philippines was 440mg/day, less than half of the FAO/WHO recommended calcium intake of 1000-1300 mg/day — a potential contributor to poor bone health.
“The IOF-Anlene Nutrition Awareness Campaign Grant will make a significant difference to our work. Our programs in the Philippines are focused on helping the general public understand the reality of developing osteoporosis and how those at risk of developing the disease can protect their quality of life through taking preventive approaches, as well as the treatments and control measures that are available. The funding will enable the OSPFI to strengthen our links with local government health offices and by doing so, enhance access to the osteoporosis training of health workers who play an essential role in community outreach,” explains Prof. Alejandro Pineda, MD.
Osteoporosis societies across Asian countries were invited to submit campaign plans on how they proposed using the US$10,000 grant to raise public awareness on mitigating the risks of osteoporosis and building bone strength through embracing balanced nutrition as part of a healthy lifestyle. Applications were judged according to the creativity, potential impact, and measurability of the program, with OSPFI demonstrating these the most strongly.
Todd continues: “Public health authorities across Asia are making a headway in developing education programs around the issue of osteoporosis, but national societies also have a valuable role to play in educating and encouraging the public to take control over their health and to raise this up the government’s health agenda. We are very excited to have the opportunity to help OSPFI progress their work and look forward to offering the Grant again in the future.”
Judy Stenmark, IOF chief operating officer, remarks, “In Asia, prevention will be the key to reducing the expected rise in osteoporotic fractures in the coming decades. It is therefore important to communicate the message that at every stage in life, the cornerstone of osteoporosis prevention is a healthy and calcium-rich diet, sufficient vitamin D, and regular weight-bearing exercise.”
To date, Fonterra has spent over US$50 million on bone health research and development to increase its understanding of osteoporosis. This includes 18 human clinical trials to test how dairy best supports bone health. Fonterra is the IOF’s regional nutrition sponsor in Asia. This partnership is dedicated to raising awareness and improving bone health across the region.
