Formation 1998 Headquarters Nyon, Switzerland | Legal status Foundation Region served Global | |
Motto Our vision is a world without fragility fractures, in which healthy mobility is a reality for all Type Non-profit organization | ||
The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF), headquartered in Nyon, Switzerland, is a non-governmental organization founded in 1998. It was formed from the merger of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis, founded in 1987, and the International Federation of Societies on Skeletal Diseases. The foundation functions as a global alliance of individuals and organizations concerned with the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and musculoskeletal diseases bone disease. The goal of the foundation is to increase the early detection of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases, as well as to improve the treatment of these conditions through international collaboration among national healthcare systems and governments.
Contents
Members of IOF are divided into a committee of 237 National Societies, a Committee of 145 Scientific Advisors, and a Committee of Corporate Advisors. Individuals may register as free or professional members via the IOF website. The current president of IOF is Professor John Kanis.
Publications
IOF publishes the public health journal Osteoporosis International and Archives of Osteoporosis (in conjunction with the National Osteoporosis Foundation); Calcified Tissue International; and Progress in Osteoporosis.
World Osteoporosis Day
The International Osteoporosis Foundation organises the annual World Osteoporosis Day, observed internationally on 20 October. The day is dedicated to raising global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related diseases of bones, muscles and joints.
History
The International Osteoporosis Foundation was established in 1998 with the merger of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (EFFO) and the International Federation of Societies on Skeletal Diseases (IFSSD). In 2008 IOF was granted Roster Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
Since 2010, IOF and the European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) jointly organize the annual World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO). The first WCO was held in 2000 in Chicago, Illinois and was formerly run by the IOF secretariat.
In addition to the annual WCO congress, IOF also hosts regional meeting and has organized 9 regional meetings since 2010 across Latin America, Middle East & Africa, & Asia Pacific.