Founding President and Director General
International Association `Family and Health’
Russia
Bios (life) is a concept for the future of our country. Meaningful reforms in the economic, social, legislative, medical, psychological, educational, cultural and other areas, through which a more `wholesome’ human life can be created, are required.
Now that democracy has been established and attention is focused on society and the state, bios is acquiring exceptional importance. This view allows for a multi-disciplinary approach aimed at improving the well-being of each person. It will consequently have an impact upon the entire world. It especially appeals to me as a physician and obstetrician. This concept, once implemented, provides an opportunity to keep present and succeeding generations healthy.
Past decades have witnessed solid scientific-technical progress in the field of human reproduction. Research made it possible to control fertility mindful of a woman’s age, health, energetic intervals, and the number of children in the family ö and consequently save millions of children’s and mothers’ lives every year. For example, scientists have synthesized new biological substances, such as steroid hormones, for the treatment of cancer diseases, and prostaglandins, sparing women the necessity of a Caesarean section or surgical abortion.
Technological advances have also aided in the early detection and treatment of disease. For example, advances in immunology have effectively treated poliomyelitis, a disease that disables children. Clinical applications of other methods have led to the early discovery of many gynaecological diseases, protecting women from the trauma and danger of surgery. Other techniques such as laser and cryosurgery, and surgical laparoscopy also provide alternatives to hospitalized operations.
Artificial and external fertilization and substitution therapy are instrumental for developments in medical advances for women. These processes allow women to experience maternal feelings, a progress which seemed impossible ten or twenty years ago. Also, prenatal diagnostics and genetic research allow physicians to detect deformities in unborn children.
Emotional stress in this age of technology influences the emergence of several maladies, including malignant, mental and psychosomatic diseases. The implementation of a bio-philosophy may greatly relieve this problem.
The Regional International Stress Prophylaxis Center of Moscow seeks to develop a medico-social program for preventative stress treatment, to organize symposia on such problems, and to create a public health movement. All these measures will be oriented towards society. Academician K.V. Sudakov, President of the Center, believes that without this, humanity has no future and he calls for international cooperation. Another non-governmental organization formed in my country, the International Academy of Ecological Reconstruction(IAER), unites the `blue’ movement for human ecology and mass creative work, the world-wide movement of the `greens’, and the Ecological Center of the Academy of Creative Endeavors.
The IAER aims at preventive treatment of the impact on the social environment caused by ecological imbalances; developing and applying protective hygienic methods; and creating a system of sanitary, hygienic and medical care in otherwise unfavorable ecological conditions.
The bios concept combines health and beauty. The renowned Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky wrote that beauty will save the world, and Alexander Herzen, wrote that health is the best of all types of beauty. Societal well-being integrates the best possible physical and mental health. It allows for a more positive and creative interdependence of humans and bios.
In conclusion, I would like to express my profound gratitude and appreciation to Dr. Agni Vlavianos-Arvanitis, who managed to generalize scientific advances in a variety of areas and create the new bios concept. Its development is necessary for a long and happy life.
Professor Irina A. Manuilova is Founding President, Honorary President, and Director General of the International Association “Family and Health” at the International Foundation of Mother and Child Health Care; Corresponding Member of the Academy of Medical Sciences; Professor at the Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Moscow Medical Institute (1966-1980); Member of the Board of the Clinical Medicine Department; WHO Panel Expert on mother and child health care and human reproduction (1974); Head of the Reproduction Department of the All-Union Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Institute (1972-1990).
