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NOFSA – National Osteoporosis Foundation of South Africa

Osteoporosis is a disease in which the density and quality of bones are reduced, leading to weakness of the skeleton and increased risk of fracture, particularly of the spine, wrists, hip, pelvis and upper arms. In many affected people, bone loss is gradual and without warning signs until the disease is advanced. It can result in extreme pain and in severe cases even death.

Osteoporosis is also known as “the silent crippler” because a person usually doesn’t know that they have it until it’s too late. Unfortunately, in many cases, the first real “symptom” is a broken bone. In South Africa, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 5 men will possibly develop this disease within their lifetime – which means potentially between 4 and 6 million South Africans suffer from Osteoporosis.

There are many misconceptions about osteoporosis, for example that it is “an old woman’s disease”. In fact, bone loss in women can begin as early as the age of 25. Furthermore, new studies have shown the prevalence of osteoporosis in men is higher than previously thought with approximately one in five men affected.

NOFSA-IOF-ESCEO Congress 2025

On behalf of the National Osteoporosis Foundation of South Africa CEO, Teréza Hough, we have the pleasure of inviting you to the 2025 NOFSA Congress scheduled from 20 to 22 November 2025.

We look forward to your participation in these exciting symposia and welcoming you to the UCT GSB Academic Conference Centre at the Protea Hotel by Marriott, Cape Town Waterfront Breakwater Lodge.

IOF Global Patient Charter

Osteoporosis remains severely underdiagnosed and undertreated!

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Patient Stories

Jul 29, 2024

Marilyn Hallett – My journey with osteoporosis

Five years ago, simultaneously when her husband, Rob, had to have a double bypass and aortic valve replacement, Marilyn Hallett was diagnosed with two stress fractures emanating from the sacroiliac joint.  She had no idea how this happened – she hadn’t had a fall or an accident – it just came out of nowhere. Subsequently, they found out that she had osteoporosis and over the next three to four years, she experienced six spontaneous fractures.

Jul 29, 2024

Ann Marais – My Osteoporosis Story

About 4 years ago Ann Marais (86) fell, broke her hip and didn’t know exactly what to expect.  She shared that osteoporosis hadn’t changed her life; she still did all the things that gave her pleasure, but she did realise the importance of being aware of the condition. She has read up about it and urges others to have their DXA scans done to make sure whether they have brittle bones or not.

May 24, 2023

PREGNANCY INDUCED OSTEOPOROSIS: A PATIENT STORY

Natalie is a 32-year-old attorney from Cape Town South Africa.  She gave birth to her third baby in October 2022 and has three children, age 9, age 2 and 6 months. When she was 5 months pregnant (and 3 weeks after her husband had surgery on his spine/neck) she woke...

Mar 17, 2021

BREAKING BONES, FRACTURING FAITH, OVERCOMING OSTEOPOROSIS.

by Mickie Jacobs Born to be active It is 1964 in Birmingham, England. Picture a young girl of 11 ½. She has just reached puberty; she is about to start secondary school. She is around 157 cms tall (or 5ft 2ins as this is England) and probably around 50 kg or 8...

Aug 31, 2020

RUNNING YOUR DREAM

She is flying downhill, feeling fantastic and thinking she is really going to do this. She has only 20 km’s left in a race that she has been training for and dreaming about for a year – the coveted Comrades Marathon. She looks over and sees him, her lover and her...

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