Press Release
Armenia Fund USA, Inc.
152 Madison Ave, Ste 803
New York, NY 10016
Contact: Irina Lazarian
Phone: 212-689-5307
Fax: 212-689-5317
Email: Irina@armeniafundusa.org
ARMENIA FUND USA AND MEDICAL MISSIONS FOR CHILDREN EXPAND HEALTHCARE
OPTIONS FOR ARMENIAN CHILDREN
Partnership Will Bring Medical Education and Specialized Health Services
to Nagorno-Karabakh
Paterson, New Jersey, May 31, 2005 – Medical Missions for Children, a
non-profit organization dedicated to elevating the quality of care for
seriously ill children in underserved communities around the world,
today announced that it is partnering with Armenia Fund USA to address
the medical needs of Armenia’s sickest children and adults. With the
additional participation of the Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh Ministries
of Health, the Armenia Society of Pediatrics and the Armenia Institute
of Pediatric and Adolescent Health, Medical Missions for Children is
laying the groundwork for the expansion of its Global Telemedicine &
Teaching NetworkT into this region of the Newly Independent States
(NIS).
In conjunction with Armenia Fund USA’s newly-developed Armine Pagoumian
Polyclinic in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, Medical Missions for
Children will implement a medical education program focused around the
topics of pediatric cardiology, otolaryngology (ENT), oncology and
orthopedics. Additionally, Medical Missions for Children will introduce
remote diagnostics capabilities that will allow physicians in the U.S.
to participate in the examination and diagnosis of pediatric illnesses
related to the upper and lower respiratory system, ear, nose, throat and
eye infections.
“Our expectation is that through Medical Missions for Children’s
telemedicine and satellite technologies, we will create a gateway from
Armenia to the 30 medical institutions that make up the mentoring
component of our Global Telemedicine & Teaching Network,” said John
Riehl, executive vice president, Medical Missions for Children. “It is
this same strategy that proved to be very successful for Medical
Missions for Children five years ago when it first established itself as
a vital medical resource to physicians and children living in Latin
America.”
Armenia Fund USA is spearheading the development of a new healthcare
clinic, the Stepanakert Polyclinic and Diagnostic Center, located in the
region’s capital. The existing healthcare facility in Stepanakert was
partially destroyed in the war. The new polyclinic will be the first
and only full care medical center in the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The facility is expected to be operational before the end of summer
2005. Besides fully equipping the clinic, Armenia Fund USA, under the
direction of Dr. Alina Dorian, has been implementing an extensive
training program for the past 18 months. This training includes all of
the clinic’s staff, utilizing specialized training materials and staff
from both the John Hopkins and UCLA facilities in the United States.
“The Global Telemedicine & Teaching Network facility, introduced by
Medical Missions for Children to the Armine Pagoumian Polyclinic in
Stepanakert, will greatly enhance the levels of service and
technological sophistication the polyclinic will be able to provide to
residents of Karabakh,” said Kevork Toroyan, chairman of Armenia Fund
USA.
“We are excited to enhance and expand the medical services Armenia Fund
USA is able to provide critically ill children in Armenia,” said Frank
Brady, founder and chairman of the board, Medical Missions for Children.
“Our relationship will help children who might not otherwise receive the
treatment they desperately need. At the same time, we will provide
access to additional medical education programming that is designed to
enhance learning. This is a unique opportunity to partner with Armenia
Fund USA and we are grateful for the support the group is providing.”
Medical Missions for Children and its Global Telemedicine & Teaching
NetworkT helps critically ill children in underserved communities around
the world. Through an extensive videoconferencing network, Medical
Missions for Children supports the real-time treatment of remote,
critically ill children. In addition utilizing its fully FCC licensed
broadcast station, WMMC, and expansive digital video library, transmits
worldwide an on-going program of continuing medical education to
physicians, nurses, medical students and hospital administrators.
The organization’s global network encompasses pediatric healthcare
facilities in 36 medically underserved countries and the volunteer
services of 26 tier-one U.S.-based and four international medical
institutions. Since the organization was founded, more than 23,500
children have been helped. Medical Missions for Children continues to
work toward its goal of touching the lives of over one million children
each year.
About Medical Missions for Children
Medical Missions for Children (MMC) is a non-profit organization
dedicated to elevating the care of catastrophically ill children in
underserved U.S. and international communities. MMC created and manages
its programs through the organization’s Global Telemedicine and Teaching
NetworkT (GTTN) – an interactive, satellite and Internet-based
communications platform. The Global Telemedicine & Teaching Network
supports the real-time treatment of remote, critically ill children, and
through a fully FCC licensed broadcast station, WMMC, broadcasts
worldwide an extensive program of continuing medical education. Medical
Missions for Children is headquartered at St. Joseph’s Children’s
Hospital in Paterson, NJ. Visit for additional
information.
About Armenia Fund USA
Armenia Fund USA is dedicated to supporting large-scale, self-sustaining
initiatives in both Armenia and Karabakh, republics in social and
political transition with tremendous potential for the future. The Fund
is primarily focused on building sustainable infrastructure for the
region through the development of roads, schools, medical facilities and
utilities. Additionally, the Fund invests in humanitarian programs in
education, training and healthcare. For more information, please visit