IOF:China to play more important role to fight against osteoporosis

International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) CEO Daniel Navid said in Beijing on Wednesday that IOF hopes to strengthen its relations with China on osteoporosis prevention and treatment.

Navid said China, with the largest population of osteoporosis patients in the world, can play a more important role in the world campaign against this disease, which mainly affects the elderly.

IOF signed a cooperation agreement with the China Health Promotion Foundation on the same day. According to the agreement, the two foundations will cooperate in the field of osteoporosis prevention, treatment and research, and promotion of Chinese public awareness of this disease.

The two foundations jointly launched the China International Osteoporosis Media Awards to encourage Chinese journalists to pay more attention to this disease.

The IOF CEO also signed an agreement with the Chinese traditional medicine company, Tongjitang, to accept it as a member of the IOF Committee of Corporate Advisors.

He said Chinese traditional medicine has proved to be effective in treating osteoporosis and he hopes that it can play its due role in this field in the world.

"The joining of the Tongjitang will help the IOF to recruit the Chinese traditional medicine in its efforts in preventing and treatment of osteoporosis," he added.

Comprised of 180 members from 90 countries and regions, IOF is the largest global non-governmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2008)