Health Events

In October of 2014, our team of Drs. Elena Sagayan (Ob/Gyn), Mariam Manoukian (Endocrinology), Ani Tajirian (Dermatology) from AHABA , and Nona Pashinian (Rheumatology) from Southern California, visited the Armenian city of Kapan with a medical mission. Our mission was undertaken in response to an invitation from Kapan physicians who had learned about our successful project in Yerevan in 2013. We delivered blood pressure cuffs, oximeters, glucometers and glucose test strips for preventive health screening. Most people in Armenia visit a physician only when they have an ongoing disease. This is the second year that we are implementing preventive measurements of vital signs and screening to diagnose early stages of medical conditions in an otherwise “healthy” population. We also examined about 150 patients in our specialties, with different medical conditions, and gave presentations to the local physicians. Despite the lack of such technology as biochemical analyzers, CT scanner, ultrasound, mammography, local doctors were eager to learn and spent all Sunday observing us and also actively participating in our lectures on Monday. Kapan is the capital of Syunik, which is the most southern region of Armenia, comprised of four regions – Sisian, Goris, Kapan and Meghri. In the course of the last 20 years, the people of Syunik have faced the stress of war and ecologic problems. Kapan is surrounded by several mining tails which contaminate the environment – both water and soil – with toxic waste. All this, combined with unhealthy food and lifestyle, may have resulted in the rise of thyroid, oncologic and cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other health problems, creating a serious burden on both families, and the health care system. On behalf of AHABA, a $2,000 donation was made for the repair of two bathrooms of the polyclinic that serves more than 30,000 people.