Armenia

Project Goal:
To increase access and quality of healthcare in Shinuhayr and its surrounding seven villages by providing comprehensive healthcare services, child-maternal health, childhood vaccinations, pharmaceutical and medical supplies, ambulance services, community outreach and education to a population of 6,809.

Project Objectives:
• To provide free medications to all in need, especially to chronically ill patients.
• To provide prenatal education and vitamins to expectant mothers.
• To educate parents about the importance of vaccinations and to continue providing free childhood vaccinations.
• To assess children’s current health status (via registration logs).
• To promote the RMF ambulance as a tool for the community to facilitate their access to seek care.
• To build trust and “open communication channels” between the community and RMF.

2nd Quarter implementation measures, results and accomplishments:

• A total of 66 children were vaccinated.
• The total number of patients treated during this time period was 268 (125 from Shinuhayr; 30 from Khot; 7 from Halidzor; 32 from Tatev; 31 from Svarants; 26 from Tandzatap and 17 from Harzhis). 95 of the direct beneficiaries were male; 127 female and 46 children.
• Our project directly impacts the sick members of the socially disadvantaged and large families as well as pensioners, minors and children. Upon their visit to the clinic and check up, RMF provides these patients with free medications and are then followed up on by RMF staff to assure their continuum of care and road to recovery. The project indirectly impacts all members of the 8 communities.
• Each month our nurses contacted mothers to remind them about “childhood vaccinations” and informed them of the date when free vaccinations are provided at the clinic. After the children received their vaccines, our nurses made follow-up calls to monitor the child’s health condition and intervened where help was needed.
  • Special attention is provided to chronically ill patients with cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes. These patients were followed up each month by our nurses to assure medication compliance and assess their health status.
  • RMF CEO, Dr. Martina Fuchs visited our project site in April and met with the community and staff. Her arrival was received with much enthusiasm. Among other assessments, Dr. Fuchs visited 14-year old Mariam Tevosyan who suffers from spinal deformation and pain and promised RMF’s support with Mariam’s care.
  • During this time period a total of 268 patients received free medications of which 47% were male and 53% female. A total of 531 units of medicines were dispensed of which 36% were for Cardiovascular Health; Anti-Inflammatories/ Anti-Pyretics (25%);Vitamins & Supplements (7%); Antibiotics (6%); Anti-Histamine (6%); Supplies (6% ); Respiratory (3%); and Other/Miscellaneous (11%).
• Total number of deaths: 7; total number of births: 8.

Success Stories:

Alina Hovsepyan, is a 37-year old divorced woman from Khot living in dire conditions with her unemployed brother. She sent her daughter to live with her father in Goris since she could not afford to care for her due to her illness. Six months ago, Alina experienced an episode of severe decline in blood pressure, lost consciousness and fell down. She did not seek medical attention then since she was unable to afford it. However, recently as she began to experience severe headaches and blurred vision and having heard of RMF’s free services, Alina contacted the clinic. Our project coordinator immediately arranged for her transportation to be seen in the Goris hospital where she was diagnosed with cheekbone injury, inflammation and infection which caused her headaches and loss of vision. Alina was then transported by RMF ambulance to Yerevan where she remained in treatment for 10 days. Today, Alina is doing well and is grateful to RMF for helping her restore her health.

• Karlen Bozyan, a 52-year old from Shinuhayr was seen on June 26th for his high blood pressure (220/190) and blood sugar (252). He was picked up by the RMF ambulance and admitted to the Shinuhayr clinic for over 2 hours until his vitals were normalized. Karlen was placed on medication and is now being monitored closely by our doctor and RMF staff.

• RMF project coordinator, Stella Arzumanjan hosted a children’s vaccination awareness day at the health post in Tatev where she closely spoke with mothers and educated them on the importance of vaccines as well as RMF’s free vaccination services. As an open forum, mothers exchanged thoughts, ideas and expressed their concerns. On this day, children were vaccinated and their young mothers received free check-ups.

• Alina Hovsepyan, is a 37-year old divorced woman from Khot living in dire conditions with her unemployed brother. She sent her daughter to live with her father in Goris since she could not afford to care for her due to her illness. Six months ago, Alina experienced an episode of severe decline in blood pressure, lost consciousness and fell down. She did not seek medical attention then since she was unable to afford it. However, recently as she began to experience severe headaches and blurred vision and having heard of RMF’s free services, Alina contacted the clinic. Our project coordinator immediately arranged for her transportation to be seen in the Goris hospital where she was diagnosed with cheekbone injury, inflammation and infection which caused her headaches and loss of vision. Alina was then transported by RMF ambulance to Yerevan where she remained in treatment for 10 days. Today, Alina is doing well and is grateful to RMF for helping her restore her health.

• Karlen Bozyan, a 52-year old from Shinuhayr was seen on June 26th for his high blood pressure (220/190) and blood sugar (252). He was picked up by the RMF ambulance and admitted to the Shinuhayr clinic for over 2 hours until his vitals were normalized. Karlen was placed on medication and is now being monitored closely by our doctor and RMF staff.

• RMF project coordinator, Stella Arzumanjan hosted a children’s vaccination awareness day at the health post in Tatev where she closely spoke with mothers and educated them on the importance of vaccines as well as RMF’s free vaccination services. As an open forum, mothers exchanged thoughts, ideas and expressed their concerns. On this day, children were vaccinated and their young mothers received free check-ups.