Bone and Joint Decade
Canada has joined 45 other countries, the World Health Organization and more than 750 organizations and associations around the world in the global effort to raise awareness and take action on bone and joint disease and injury.The goal of the Bone and Joint Decade is to improve the quality of life for people with musculoskeletal disorders and injury throughout the world. These include joint disease, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, low back pain, spinal disorders, severe trauma to the extremities, crippling disease and deformities in children.
The Decade aims to:
- Raise awareness of the growing burden of musculoskeletal disorders and injury
- Empower patients to participate in their own care
- Promote cost-effective prevention and treatment
- Advance understanding of musculoskeletal disorders through research to improve prevention and treatment
IMHA has used the momentum and profile of this international initiative as a springboard to increase awareness of the magnitude and impact of MSK diseases and conditions among Canadians, to ensure Canadian researchers benefit from advances and findings in other countries and to aid in the establishment of a collaborative network of 20 national agencies with a direct interest in the MSK field.
In 2005, Canada hosted the Annual Meeting of the International Bone and Joint Decade Committee. This meeting provided valuable inputs that contributed to the development of a national and international strategy to address the growing burden of musculoskeletal diseases and conditions around the world.
In 2009, IMHA participated in the BJD Global Network Conference and Patient Advocacy Seminar in Washington, DC. Bringing together delegates from around the globe, this forum was valuable in developing international goals for the future of bone and joint health policy.