What is the National Osteoporosis Foundation?
The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) is an organization set up in the United States of America with its headquarters at Washington D.C. The vision of the foundation as stated on its website is “To make health a reality and a lifelong priority for all individuals”. After being set up in 1984, the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) has been actively participating in educating people and professionals about the risks and treatments of osteoporosis, and also providing research grants to institutes performing research in finding cures for osteoporosis.
History of the Foundation
Although the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) was founded in 1984, it was not until 1985 that the word “National” was included. Earlier it was only known as the Osteoporosis Foundation, with a mission “to prevent osteoporosis, to promote lifelong bone health, to help improve the lives of those affected by osteoporosis and related fractures, and to find a cure”. Also in 1985, a bill calling for the osteoporosis week was passed in Congress and today NOF coordinates efforts related Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, recognized in May.
In 1986, the headquarters was established as Washington D.C. and it hired its first full-time executive director, Sandra Raymond. Today it participates in numerous activities, which are targeted to help patients of osteoporosis deal with the condition better, and to help health professionals find a cure for this condition.
Information Provided By NOF
The NOF is responsible for providing numerous guidelines to patients as well as health care professionals on the management of osteoporosis. It does this in a number of ways such as, holding seminars and events, providing literature, publishing journals, conducting research with the help of other institutes as well as development and maintenance of a detailed website with guidelines and news about the disorder as well as the foundation.
Seminars and Events held by the Foundation
The National Osteoporosis Foundation is responsible for holding several events during the year to spread awareness among people as well inculcate interest in research to fight osteoporosis. During the month of May, the National Osteoporosis Foundation celebrates the Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month, in which it helps to spread awareness among the masses about the disease and how to prevent it. It has even celebrates a “World Osteoporosis Day” which takes place on October 20 every year. Apart from this, the NOF also holds a number of seminars where celebrities such as Sally Field (Academy award winning actress), and health care professionals provide information on the condition and its management.
Providing Literature
In both the events, the NOF distributes free literature to spread awareness as well as educate people on how to deal and manage the condition of osteoporosis. The bone tool kit is one such literature that the NOF gives is a great resource for medical professionals who can provide this information to patients in order to educate them about bones and osteoporosis. Distribution of many such literature is done during seminars and other events as well as on the website of the foundation.
Osteoporosis Treatment: Find One The is Safe and Effective
