In parallel with the World Mother Day, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has launched the largest osteoporosis screening campaign at a number of hospitals and healthcare centers across the Kingdom.
The campaign comes in continuation of its efforts to provide full support for medical awareness programs and initiatives, which are integral part of its daily responsibility, it said, noting that the active participation in educating community benefits both individuals and community, and reflects the ministry's keenness to spread the medial culture and raise its level within community.
Since the start of the campaign, MOH has detected 1,218 cases in one day only through 6 clinics and 5 hospitals enhanced with medical equipment and cadres across the Kingdom for early detection of osteoporosis. Patients are given screening results as quickly as possible including bone density screening using DEXA machine. The campaign also distributed medical leaflets to raise the awareness of osteoporosis patients and those susceptible about the causes of osteoporosis, prevention methods and the most effective treatment methods.
Osteoporosis is often called “the silent disease” because bone loss usually occurs gradually over the years without symptoms. Its first symptoms take the shape of a fracture of the pelvic bone, spine, forearm or shoulder; causing severe pain, loss of movement and disability.
It is noteworthy that worldwide osteoporosis causes more than 8.9 million fractures annually, resulting in an osteoporotic fracture every 3 seconds, and 1 in 3 women over age 50 will experience osteoporotic fractures, as will 1 in 5 men aged over 50.