On August 26, 2022, the XVIII Annual Regional Citizens' Forum was held in Yaroslavl, with almost 300 people taking part in it. It was attended by representatives of public organizations, officials, policymakers, legislators, experts, journalists and volunteers. An exhibit of non-profit organizations operating in different spheres of activity was featured.

In order to raise awareness of osteoporosis and its prevention as a public health issue, representatives of All- Russia Patient Society OSTEORUS and the Russian Association on Osteoporosis (RAOP) participated in the Forum’s interactive events. 

The OSTEORUS information stand attracted much attention from the public. Society volunteers (Galina Evstifeeva and Victoria Sotskova) and a representative of the Regional Treatment and Diagnostic Center for Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis (Zulfiya Matyakubova) answered questions about osteoporosis prevention. They distributed booklets and leaflets about osteoporosis, as well as information about the best sources of dietary calcium and vitamin D, and the importance of physical activity and its effect on bone health. Participants were invited to take the IOF One-Minute Osteoporosis Risk Test to identify their risk of osteoporosis. 

The activists told the visitors about World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) which is held all over the world on October 20 under the aegis of the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF). In Russia OSTEORUS and RAOP organize this event on the basis of osteoporosis centers which are members of the Russian Association on Osteoporosis (RAOP).

The WOD 2022 slogan is "STEP UP for BONE HEALTH". One of the special events of this year's campaign is the participation of the European Space Agency astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti who has supported a campaign to encourage osteoporosis prevention through a bone-healthy lifestyle at all stages of life.

As part of the presentation of the society's activities, a workshop on Nordic walking was held, led by Elena Leonchuk, head of the Nordic-Yar public walking organization, in which all those interested took part.

The Yaroslavl Regional Section of the “Women’s Union of Russia”  were active participants of the event together with OSTEORUS.

Mikhail Evraev, the Acting Governor of the Yaroslavl region, emphasized the importance of feedback from the public and the efficiency of public initiatives. For the educational activities of "OSTEORUS" it is important to promote knowledge in society about osteoporosis and its prevention from an early age.

Contributed by Galina Evstifeeva, Victoria Sotscova