“Let’s preserve the beauty of the movement!” Lily Ignatova

Osteoporosis is the second illness in the list of health problems in the world after the cardiovascular diseases according to the WHO

The World Day for Fight against Osteoporosis was marked with a series of initiatives. One of them was the breakfast given on October 14 in the residence of the Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria. It was hosted by the Ambassador’s wife Mrs. Seniz Berk. Among the guests were some of the main organizers of the campaign – Mrs. Maria Novak, President of the International Women’s Club, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anna-Maria Borisova, Chairman of the Bulgarian League for Prophylactics of Osteoporosis, and Tsvetelina Georgieva – Corporative Communications Manager of “Danon – Serdika”.

Representatives of leading media and health television and radio broadcasts in the country were invited at the breakfast, in order to get acquainted and cooperate for popularizing the campaign. Its aim, according to Mrs. Berk, is to increase the information available to society, to popularize prevention and the possibility to retard the development of this insidious disease. The attention should be directed towards healthful nutrition and the necessary daily doze of calcium for every organism and last but not least – the healthy way of life in general and especially the importance of physical exercise.

Assoc. Prof. Borisova presented particularly alarming statistical data about people suffering from osteoporosis. The danger is that often the disease runs without any symptoms, as the first manifestation is a fracture. Osteoporosis is characterized by loss of osseous volume and change in the osseous structure. Therefore the osseous density must be periodically checked – the sooner the illness is detected, the smaller are the risky consequences.

Mrs. Novak appealed that we should take care of ourselves. “Only with this care, we shall have healthy and happy life!”

On October 20, in the National Assembly members of parliament measured their osseous density and met with the initiators of the Campaign for Fight Against Osteoporosis – 2004. The initiative follows the appeal for action against osteoporosis directed by the European Parliament last year. As future member of the European Union, it is natural that Bulgaria should have such structure,” shared Mrs. Vesela Draganova, leader of the sole party – partner of the Campaign.

At the meeting in the National Assembly, the members of parliament were personally acquainted with the organizers of the campaign and their initiatives.

The culmination of the initiatives took place yesterday on October the 20th in front of the Archeological Museum, where citizens and popular persons of the political and social life gathered at a Lights Show.

Osteoporosis is one of the most widespread illnesses. The World Health Organization has registered 200 million cases in the whole world. Most often the osteoporosis fracture affects the femoral bone, the spinal column and the wrist. In case osteoporosis is found at an early stage of development, it can be totally cured. It is necessary to know that healthful nutrition; physical exercise and refraining from alcohol and cigarettes are the main factors influencing the illness.

The main target of the initiators of the campaign was to rise the social awareness of the large scale of osteoporosis spreading and the ways for preventing it.

Mrs. Juliana Tomova,
Editor-in-Chief of Bulgarian Diplomatic Review magazine
and Chaiperson of Prevention Association