Media rewarded for raising awareness
of major public health issue
Winners announced for “The Boehringer Ingelheim COPD
Communication Award – Eloquium”
Ingelheim/Germany, 19 November (World COPD Day 2003) – Three journalists are recognised today for their achievements in extending public awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the fastest growing cause of death in the world’s advanced economies and predicted to be the world’s third leading cause of death by
2020.1
COPD kills more people than lung cancer and causes more smoking related deaths than cardiovascular
disease2, yet up to half of all COPD patients are unaware they have the
disease.3 Raising awareness of COPD amongst the general public and at-risk groups is important as early diagnosis and treatment can improve the long-term outlook for patients with the
disease.4
The three winning entries of the Eloquium Award are:
- Anne Rikama, Finland, Valitut Palat (Readers Digest), Kun Henki Ei Kulje (When breathing is Difficult) - a vivid, in-depth assessment of the devastating impact of COPD upon a person’s life
- Jill Margo, Australia, The Australian Financial Review, Killer disease that leaves you waiting to inhale - a lucid, high impact review of COPD and its effects with a famous COPD case review
- Catherine Siow, Malaysia, StarTwo of The Star Newspaper, Gasping for breath / All clogged up - from the initial first cigarette to the effects of COPD decades later, an insightful and personal two-part perspective on COPD
Commenting on the Award, Judging Panel Chair and Chairman of the Dissemination Committee for the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD), Professor Peter Calverley said: “High calibre journalism is vital in alerting the public and healthcare professionals to the potential health and economic time bomb this disease represents. Anne, Jill and Catherine, demonstrated a deep understanding of the disease and combined this with journalistic excellence to relay the key issues in topical, interesting, and meaningful messages to their target
audiences.”
The first award of its kind, Eloquium, sponsored by Boehringer Ingelheim, attracted a total of 88 submissions from journalists around the world. Entries were judged by an independent panel comprised of international experts recognised for their achievements in the areas of COPD and healthcare
journalism.*
The annual scheme is now reopened for the 2004 Award, and the Award Secretariat invites submissions from all print, broadcast and online media.
In response to the announcement Dr Alessandro Banchi, Member of the Board of Managing Directors, Boehringer Ingelheim, commented: “In our dedication to progressing the treatment of respiratory disease we are delighted to sponsor Eloquium and reward journalists who have so clearly demonstrated educational, innovative and responsible journalism, raising awareness of this devastating
disease.”
For their outstanding contributions to COPD reporting, each winner receives a one-week trip for two people to a mountain destination and has been invited to attend the 14th Annual European Respiratory Society Congress (ERS) in Glasgow, Scotland, 4-8 September 2004.
For further information about Eloquium, including application details for the 2004 award visit
www.eloquium.org or
e-mail: eloquium@shirehealth.com
Notes to Editors:
*Judging Panel for The Boehringer Ingelheim COPD Communication Award Eloquium
- Professor Peter Calverley
Consultant Chest Physician, University Hospital Liverpool, UK Chairman of the Eloquium Judging Panel
- Professor Christoph Fasel
Professor for Media & Communication Management at the Hochschule fuer Wirtschaft und Medien in Calv, Germany
- Dr Diane Pérez
Journalist and physician, producer and presenter of the Mexican TV health program 'Cuide su Salud', and collaborator in national news and health programmes
- Patricia Reaney
Health/Science Correspondent, Reuters News Agency
- Esther Threlfall
Former Breathe Easy Manager, British Lung Foundation (BLF)
About Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim Corporation is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 156 affiliates in 44 countries and approximately 32,000 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, manufacturing and marketing novel products of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
In 2002, Boehringer Ingelheim posted net sales of 7.6 billion euro while spending about one fifth of net sales in its largest business segment Prescription Medicines on research and
development.
Related Links:
News
releases of 19.11.2002 in connection with the launch of the Award
Corporate Website www.boehringer-ingelheim.com
For further information:
About Boehringer Ingelheim
Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH
Judith von Gordon
Corporate Division Communications
55216 Ingelheim
Phone: +49/6132/77 35 82
Fax: +49/6132/77 66 01
e-mail
About The Eloquium Award
The Eloquium Award Secretariat
Shire Health International
Unit 6, 49 Atalanta Street
London SW6 6TR
United Kingdom
Phone: +44 (0)20 7471 1500
Fax:+44 (0)20 7471 1501
e-mail: eloquium@shirehealth.com
References
1. Murray CJL, Lopez AD. eds. The Global Burden of Disease: a comprehensive assessment of mortality and disability from
diseases, injuries, and risk factors in 1990 and projected to 2020. Cambridge; Harvard University Press; 1996.
2. Zaher CA, Halbert RJ, Dubois RW, George DL, Nonikov D. Smoking Related Diseases: The Importance of COPD. Poster presented at the annual meeting of the American Thoracic Society (ATS), 16-21 May, Seattle, Washington, USA; 2003.
3. Petty TL. Definitions, causes, course and prognosis of COPD. Respir Care Clin N Am. 1998; 4:345-358,vii.
4. Rudolf M. The reality of drug use in COPD. Chest 2000; 117:29S-32S.
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