Bougainvillea logo.

On Friday, December 2, 2011, orthopedic and joint specialists from the Bougainvillea Clinic and Johnson & Johnson will conduct a specialized joint care interactive session at the clinic.

This will be followed by an early morning Joint Replacement Walkathon at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Grounds on Saturday, December 3, 2011. The walk aims to raise funds for the BVI Cancer Society.

“Dr Nagy Darwish introduced the innovative and specialized artificial joint replacement procedure as an option at the Bougainvillea Clinic in 2006,” said Dr Heskith Vanterpool, medical director and owner of the Bougainvillea Clinic. “Prior to that time, residents of the BVI had to face all the associated costs and attendant issues of undergoing medical treatment abroad. We have conducted over seventy successful operations at the Clinic over the last five years and there are an increasing number of patients coming to us from the mainland USA and the Caribbean region. We’ve also recently introduced a range of non-invasive joint care programmes. The aim of the interactive session is to engage with sufferers and to discuss the various options available to them in dealing with their specific joint issues.”

The interactive session will run from 6.30pm – 8.00pm and is open to joint problem sufferers, patients and ex-patients interested in learning about typical joint related issues, bone degeneration, arthritis, symptomatic care, non-invasive curative measures, and pre- and post-operative options and expectations. Attendees will be encouraged to share experiences and ask questions.

Models and other demonstration materials will be used to illustrate issues and treatments.

The Bougainvillea Clinic in conjunction with ©DePuy will be giving away two sets of three injections of ORTHOVISC® High Molecular Weight Hyaluronan* valued at $1,200 per set.

The injections provide relief to sufferers of Knee Osteoarthritis for a period of up to 6 months, increasing mobility and removing pain and discomfort.

Space for the interactive session is limited and a confirmation of attendance is required by calling the Bougainvillea Clinic on 494 2181.

The Bougainvillea Clinic Joint Replacement Walkathon is open to the public.

“The walk will showcase the successful return to an active life for post-operative patients,” said Dr Nagy Darwish, orthopedic surgeon at the Bougainvillea Clinic. “In addition to this, we want to encourage walkers of all ages and abilities to join in and complete sponsored laps around the 400-meter track. Participants can determine the number of laps they walk or run and get family, friends and colleagues to sponsor them. Proceeds from the entry fee and all funds raised from the sponsorship will be donated to the BVI Cancer Society.”

The Bougainvillea Clinic selected the BVI Cancer Society as the beneficiary of the walkathon to support the critical community work of the association and to draw attention to the bone metastases and sarcomas, Cancerous diseases that may require orthopedic surgery.

“The board of the BVI Cancer Society sees this event as a double benefit for its cause,” said Mrs Theresa Frett, president of the BVI Cancer Society. “Not only will the Society be the recipient of desperately needed funds but also, since December does not have a specific Cancer allocated to it, we will be able to focus our outreach efforts on bone metastases and sarcomas along with the associated caregiving.”

Registration at the A.O. Shirley Recreation Ground is at 6.30am with walkers and runners starting their laps at 7.00am. There is a basic entry fee of $20 which will include an event tee shirt and breakfast. The walk will come to a close at 10.00am when a draw will take place to announce the name of one of five, pre-qualified potential candidates for a free joint replacement operation valued at $22,000. The gift is donated by the Bougainvillea Clinic in conjunction with ©DePuy, a part of the Johnson & Johnson family of companies. Sponsorship forms can be collected at the Bougainvillea Clinic, Medicure Pharmacy and the BVI Cancer Society on Main Street.

More information on the events can be obtained by contacting Dr Fairfax, hospital manager at the Bougainvillea Clinic, on 284 494 2181 or 284 440 3516. For information on the BVI Cancer Society or to sign up as a member, please call 284 499 0022.