PRESS RELEASE
June 14, 2005
American University of Armenia Corporation
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Contact: Gohar Momjian
E-mail: [email protected]
Developing a National Strategic Plan for Prevention of Blindness in Armenia
Yerevan -From June 8-10, 2005, Armenia’s Ministry of Health, with
financial support from the Christoffel-Blindenmission organization
of Germany and technical assistance from AUA’s Garo Meghrigian Eye
Institute for Preventive Ophthalmology (GMEIPO), organized a three-day
workshop to develop a National Strategic Plan for the prevention
of blindness in Armenia. Geneva’s World Health Organization (WHO)
also provided its expertise.
The main foci of the workshop, consistent with the WHO Vision 2020
concept, included eye disease control, infrastructure assessment and
development, human resource development, and management structures
to support the National Strategic Plan. Working groups will assess
the present epidemiology of eye diseases in Armenia, review eye care
delivery, compile and analyze information on ophthalmic education, and
review and analyze activities of various NGOs involved in prevention
of blindness in Armenia.
Participants formulated strategies to achieve WHO’s Vision 2020 targets
within five years through a detailed national and regional level
plan. They began to identify roles and responsibilities for various
stakeholders, define ways and means of mobilizing resources, and define
parameters for monitoring and evaluating eye care service delivery.
“In the next 4 months, we anticipate finalizing the plan. After
discussing the plan with a large audience, including eye care
professionals and the general public, it will be submitted
for Governmental approval,” said Naira Khachatryan, Principal
Investigator of AUA’s Garo Meghrigian Eye Institute for the
Preventative Ophthalmology. “As part of those efforts, the Vision
2020 Initiative in Armenia will be launched and Armenia will join in
the efforts of blindness prevention worldwide,” stated Khachatryan.
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educational organization in both Armenia and the United States
and is affiliated with the Regents of the University of California.
Receiving major support from the AGBU, AUA offers instruction leading
to the Masters Degree in eight graduate programs. For more information
about AUA, visit
Photo: Lilit Lazarian (translator); Michael Hansmann,
Assistant Regional Representatives, Christoffel-Blindenmission;
Dr. Naira Khachatryan, Principal Investigator, GMEIPO/AUA; Dr. Vahan
Poghosyan, Head of Medical Care, Ministry of Health, Head of National
Tuberculosis Program; Dr. Hayk Darbinyan, Vice Minister, Ministry
of Health; Dr. Norayr Davidyan, Minister of Health; Dr. Haroutune
Armenian, President, American University of Armenia; Dr. Ramachandra
Pararagasegaram, Consultant Ophthalmologist, World Health Organization
(WHO)/Geneva