President campaigns osteoporosis prevention

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 11/02/2008 10:37 AM  

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono participated in a race walking campaign for osteoporosis prevention at the National Monument (Monas) Square in Jakarta on Sunday. 

“It is better to prevent the disease rather than treating it,” he said in his opening speech. The president start 10,000 people off on a 10,000-step race walk. 

Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari said that osteoporosis was a silent epidemic disease because its symptoms were not easily noticeable unless by medical check. 

“The risk of the disease increases among Indonesians, who nowadays have better chance to live longer but consume less calcium than needed,” she said. 

According to a study released by the ministry in 2006, two out of five Indomesians risk getting osteoporosis. (dre)