Gro Harlem Brundtland

Women's health is one of WHO's highest priorities.

Osteoporosis, as the third threat, is particularly attributable to women's physiology.

Let me first say that I don't think the millennium target of cutting global poverty in half is an impossible or abstract target. I think it is a real and achievable goal.

When public and private sectors combine intellectual and other resources, more can be achieved.

Investing in health will produce enormous benefits.

We have seen SARS stopped dead in its tracks.

Although approximately 80% of osteoporosis sufferers are women, as the longevity of the male population increases, the disease will assume increasing importance in men.

With an annual investment of $66 billion by 2007, we can save 8 million lives each year.

In recognising the global problem posed by osteoporosis, WHO sees the need for a global strategy for prevention and control of osteoporosis, focusing on three major functions: prevention, management and surveillance.

An important lever for sustained action in tackling poverty and reducing hunger is money.

Intervention for the prevention and control of osteoporosis should comprise a combination of legislative action, educational measures, health service activities, media coverage, and individual counselling to initiate changes in behaviour.

Such lifestyle factors such as cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, little physical activity and low dietary calcium intake are risk factors for osteoporosis as well as for many other non-communicable diseases.