In 1996, based on the perceived success of the Decade of the Brain in terms of fostering interest and promoting research, Swedish orthopaedists conceived the idea of a decade devoted to musculo-skeletal disease. As a result of favourable initial support for such an initiative an International Steering Committee was formed to promote a Decade of Bone & Joint 2000-2010 and the Decade was officially launched internationally on 13 January 2000. To date twenty-one countries including the United Kingdom and Australia have endorsed the Decade of Bone & Joint, together with the World Bank, the World Health Organisation and the Secretary-General of the UN. Each country at a local level organises a National Action Network to take responsibility for co-ordinating activities under the umbrella of the Bone & Joint Decade.

A New Zealand network was inaugurated in February with the active support of a number of professional organisations including orthopaedic surgeons, rheumatologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, chiropractors and osteopaths as well as lay groups including the Arthritis Foundation, Osteoporosis New Zealand, New Zealand Amputees Federation, Haemophilia Society and Pagets Disease Charitable Trust. In addition there has been involvement from government or quasi government agencies including Ministry of Health, ACC Healthwise and the Artificial Limb Board. A Working Group from within the National Action Network has been set up and is identifying initial objectives for the Decade in New Zealand. These are being developed to align local activities broadly with the international criteria that have been established.

The key goals of the Decade internationally have been stated as:

In New Zealand whilst taking the global objectives into account the Working Group has, as an initial programme, identified the following as major operational working projects:

Some initial scoping work for the above projects has commenced, primarily in the area of literature review.

It is important to understand the extent of the burden of musculo-skeletal disease, which is increasing with the increasing ageing of the population. Joint diseases account for half of all chronic conditions in persons 65 and over. Back pain is the second leading cited cause of sick leave. Fractures related to osteoporosis have almost doubled in the last decade; it is estimated that 40% of all women over the age of 50 suffer from osteoporosis; 56% of women and 29% of men over the age of 60 will suffer from an osteoporotic fracture. Trauma, particularly the severe injuries caused by traffic accidents and violence of all types, produce a tremendous demand for preventive and restorative help. Crippling diseases and deformities continue to deprive children of their normal development.

These facts paint a horrifying picture of the burden of musculoskeletal disorder when looked at in a global perspective but even in a country as relatively safe and ordered as New Zealand their impact is enough to attract the many participants in the broad based working group now established here. This group is committed to taking action to make a significant difference in the understanding, prevention, and treatment of musculo-skeletal disease in our community over the next ten years.

To be successful the Bone & Joint Decade initiative in New Zealand needs endorsement and support by the public, by professional groups, by industry and by the government. Only on such a basis will funding be forthcoming to ensure that a programme of specific projects can be established.

The New Zealand National Action Network is seeking the appropriate governmental endorsement of the Decade and its full participation in the Network, especially in a public launch of the initiative planned for October 2000. In addition sponsorship funding is sought to enable

For more information on the Decade of Bone and Joint, please visit the international website at: www.boneandjointdecade.org