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PRESS RELEASE

Embassy of the Republic of Armenia
Contact: Nouneh Zastoukhova
2225 R Street, NW,
Washington, DC, 20008
Tel: 202 319 1976
Fax: 202 319 2982
Email: armpr@speakeasy.net


August 8, 2002

The delegation of Health professionals from the Republic of Armenia visited Washington, DC to participate in the Conference dedicated to the "Ten Years of Health Transition in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia" (July 28-31, 2002), organized by the USAID and American International Health Alliance Partnership Conference (July 31-August 2, 2002). Around 30 CIS and East European countries attended the Conferences.

Since 1993 there have been 7 US-Armenia Health partnership programs, of which 5 are still in progress:

1. Yerevan Emergency Scientific Medical Center and Boston University Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, University of Massachusetts Medical Center (1993-1999). This partnership was focused on the emergency medicine and disaster preparedness, infection control, nursing, medical education, upgrading hospital equipment and improving efficiency in areas of hospital administration.
2. Erebuni Hospital of Yerevan, the Ministry of Health and Beth Israel Hospital of Boston first, then the UCLA Medical Center (1993-1999). The partnership had three primary areas of focus: women's health, neonatal resuscitation and nursing education and care.
3. The Lori Regional Health Care Administration, including Vanadzor Polyclinic #5 (which serves 17 districts in Vanadzor) and the UCLA Medical Center (1999-present). The partnership is developing community-based primary care services, building up existing services within Polyclinic #5.
4. The School of Health Care Management of Armenia and The Department of
Health Services Administration of the University of Alabama at Birmingham
(1999-present). The overall goal of the partnership is to strengthen post-graduate
and certificate programs in health services administration and nursing, to serve
Armenia and its citizens and to ensure program stability and sustainability.
5. The Gegharkunik Regional Health Care Management Department (including
Sevan Polyclinic) and Care New England (includes 3 major private non-profit
Hospitals) and Lifespan Health Systems (consists of 5 hospitals, a large visiting nurse association and extensive primary care facilities across Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts) (1999-present). Major priorities identified were the need for professionals in the region to receive a continuing education and training with greater emphasis on disease prevention and health promotion in the population.
6. The Armavir Regional Health Care Administration (including Armavir
Polyclinic, serving 15 districts in Armavir) and University of Texas Medical
Branch at Galveston- a major academic health science center dedicated to health
education, patient care, research, and community service (1999-present). The
overall goal of the partnership is to improve the health of the population in
Armavir region through the implementation of primary care principles and
practices. The partnership is employing a Train-the-Trainer approach that
emphasizes lifestyle changes and health provider practices.
7. The Armenian-American Mammography university Center and The Armenian-
American Cultural Association (2000-present). The overall goal of the partnership
is to improve clinical, educational, and preventive services and to reduce breast
cancer morbidity and mortality, by expanding early detection techniques.

Representatives of all seven partnerships, as well as the Governor of Lori Region, Armenia's Ministry of Health officials and USAID Yerevan office representative attended both Conferences. On July 31st, the Armenian delegation visited the Embassy of the Republic of Armenia in Washington, DC and had a meeting with the Embassy staff and members of the Armenian-American Health Association of Greater Washington.