Between 1997 and 2002, the organization’s work was mainly informative through the organization of events in Open Protection Centers for the Elderly around Greece. In 2003, Butterfly Bone Health Society added to the existing informative events the implementation of osteoporosis examinations through the use of specialized mobile equipment. These examinations involve a close collaboration with local volunteer doctors who interpret the results of the examinations and propose treatment when necessary. Each examination offers information concerning prevention, tests and treatment for free. Between 2003 and 2014, Butterfly Bone Health Society organized 300 such examinations throughout Greece with 60,000 beneficiaries. In 2014, and in response to a growing number of related requests, Butterfly Bone Health Society expanded its informative services to include several skeletal health related conditions in addition to osteoporosis. In collaboration with osteoporosis-related scientific agencies, Butterfly Bone Health Society performs scientific studies in order to collect and process epidemiological data regarding this long-standing disease.
Medical Examinations
The grant regards the provision of free dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) examinations to uninsured elderly patients with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a chronic disease with a high incidence in the elderly and the most necessary test for monitoring the disease is DEXA. This must be done in accordance with international and Greek instructions in two points in the body: spine and hip. Patients with established osteoporosis should be tested at least once or twice a year, however, due to budget cuts in the insurance funds, patients can only be tested once every two years and at only one point in the body. This situation has caused a great deal of new fractures in a large proportion of patients and correspondingly increasing hospital costs. The free examinations will be provided to a minimum of 600 persons, helping in this way to alleviate a large proportion of those afflicted.
This grant is implemented through the Points of Support program II.
Between 1997 and 2002, the organization’s work was mainly informative through the organization of events in Open Protection Centers for the Elderly around Greece. In 2003, Butterfly Bone Health Society added to the existing informative events the implementation of osteoporosis examinations through the use of specialized mobile equipment. These examinations involve a close collaboration with local volunteer doctors who interpret the results of the examinations and propose treatment when necessary. Each examination offers information concerning prevention, tests and treatment for free. Between 2003 and 2014, Butterfly Bone Health Society organized 300 such examinations throughout Greece with 60,000 beneficiaries. In 2014, and in response to a growing number of related requests, Butterfly Bone Health Society expanded its informative services to include several skeletal health related conditions in addition to osteoporosis. In collaboration with osteoporosis-related scientific agencies, Butterfly Bone Health Society performs scientific studies in order to collect and process epidemiological data regarding this long-standing disease.
Medical Examinations
The grant regards the provision of free dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) examinations to uninsured elderly patients with osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a chronic disease with a high incidence in the elderly and the most necessary test for monitoring the disease is DEXA. This must be done in accordance with international and Greek instructions in two points in the body: spine and hip. Patients with established osteoporosis should be tested at least once or twice a year, however, due to budget cuts in the insurance funds, patients can only be tested once every two years and at only one point in the body. This situation has caused a great deal of new fractures in a large proportion of patients and correspondingly increasing hospital costs. The free examinations will be provided to a minimum of 600 persons, helping in this way to alleviate a large proportion of those afflicted.
This grant is implemented through the Points of Support program II.
