SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 24
(By Senators Walker, Minear, Macnaughtan, Chafin and Kimble)
Declaring that Tuesday, February 27, 1996, be designated as
Osteoporosis Awareness Day.
Whereas, Osteoporosis, a bone-thinning disease, is a major
public health problem that poses a threat to the health and quality
of life to as many as twenty-five million Americans; and
Whereas, The one and a half million fractures each year that
result from osteoporosis cause pain, disability, immobility and
social isolation, affecting quality of life and threatening
people's ability to live independently; and
Whereas, Because osteoporosis progresses silently and without
sensation over many years, and many cases remain undiagnosed, its
first symptom is often a fracture, typically of the hip, spine or
wrist; and
Whereas, One of two women and one of five men will suffer an
osteoporosis fracture in their lifetime; and
Whereas, A womans' risk of hip fracture is equal to her
combined risk of breast, uterine and ovarian cancer; and
Whereas, The annual direct and indirect costs of osteoporosis
to the health care system were estimated to be as high as eighteen billion dollars in 1993 and are expected to reach sixty to eighty
billion dollars by the year 2020; and
Whereas, Since osteoporosis progresses silently and currently
has no cure, prevention, early diagnosis and treatment are key to
reducing the prevalence of and devastation from this disease; and
Whereas, Although there exists a large quantity of public
information about osteoporosis, it remains inadequately
disseminated and not tailored to meet the needs of specific
population groups; and
Whereas, Most people, including physicians, health care
providers and government agencies, continue to lack knowledge in
the prevention, detection and treatment of the disease; and
Whereas, Experts in the field of osteoporosis believe that
with greater awareness of the value of prevention among medical
experts, service providers and the public, osteoporosis will be
preventable and treatable in the future, thereby reducing the costs
of long-term care; and
Whereas, Osteoporosis is a multigenerational issue because
building strong bones during youth and preserving them during
adulthood may prevent fractures in later life; and
Whereas, Educating the public and health care community
throughout the state about this potentially devastating disease is a paramount importance and is in every respect in the public
interest and to the benefit of all residents of the state of West
Virginia; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That February 27, 1996, be designated as Osteoporosis
Awareness Day in the state of West Virginia; and, be it
Further Resolved,
That the West Virginia Senate encourages all
citizens to educate themselves about this potentially devastating
disease in the hope of preventing as many cases as possible in the
future and in the hopes that greater awareness will result in the
development of a cure; and, be it
Further Resolved,
That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward
a copy of this resolution to the governor.