Email 
Print 
Improved healthcare for Armenian families through professional trainings
Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author's alone.
Previous
| Next
A boy receives medical attention from doctor who attended a World Vision supported training.
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org
World Vision MEERO, http://meero.worldvision.org
In addition to learning diagnosis and treatment of diseases, doctors and nurses are being trained to provide more comprehensive care by promoting healthier lifestyles and regular check-ups for their patients.
'We're thankful to World Vision for organizing these much needed trainings in our remote communities, which we can attend without leaving our workplace or patients, or having to pay additional expenses,' says Hasmik Ghazaryan, the family doctor for three communities in Vardenis.
The cases of diabetes and goiter are increasing, says Ms. Ghazaryan. Both illnesses are common in Armenia and quite dangerous for children because they may affect their growth and progress in school. Therefore, the prevention and early diagnosis of these conditions is very important.
World Vision contracted the National Institute of Health in June 2007 to provide five-day training sessions on methods of diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, goiter, hypertension and coronary heart disease for about 70 primary healthcare doctors in five remote regions of Armenia. The contract also includes five-day training courses for 75 community nurses on care of patients with endocrine and heart disorders – two major causes of death in Armenia in the last decade.
'Professional training sessions are unavailable to the majority of doctors from remote districts of Armenia because they typically take place in the capital city, Yerevan. So, these training sessions organized by World Vision are very much valued,' says Satenik Bagdasaryan, Associate Professor of Endocrinology and Chair of the National Health Institute, who facilitates training on endocrinology in Vardenis, eastern Armenia.
'The fact that there is no endocrinologist in Vardenis demonstrates how important and needed this training is,' added Ms. Bagdasaryan.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
