FREE OPHTHALMOLOGIC SERVICES TO BE RENDERED IN 2007 TO RESIDENTS OF
KOTAYK, LORI, SHIRAK AND TAVUSH REGIONS OF ARMENIA

Yerevan, February 2. ArmInfo. The Armenian EyeCare Project (AECP) will
mark the beginning of its new operational season in February 2007 by
conducting free of charge eye screening for the vulnerable population
of the Kanaeker-Zeitun district in Yerevan in close collaboration with
the District Municipality.

In the scope of the USAID/AECP Primary and Opthalmologic Healthcare
Alliance, fifteen schools including four special schools, fifteen
kindergartens, three soup kitchens as well as the vulnerable
population of the district will participate in eye screenings
scheduled to commence on February 19th and last until mid March.

Earlier this year the AECP finalized its activities in Ararat region
of Armenia where following over two months of intensive work 13, 765
people were screened including 8, 084 children, 1, 080 patients were
referred to the Mobile Eye Hospital (MEH) for further examination and
treatment, 349 were operated on and 124 patients received laser
treatment. As an additional service provided in the scope of the
project, over 1, 700 eye glasses were prescribed and delivered to the
most vulnerable population of Ararat region.

According to the AECP Yerevan Office Country Director Ms. Nune
Yeghiazaryan, the major priorities for the organization this year
include eye screening missions to Kotayk, Lori, Shirak and Tavush
regions of Armenia that are scheduled to commence from March
2007. Additionally, an extensive Public Education and Communication
campaign is planned to improve public attitudes towards eye care and
prevention and to encourage the population in the regions to attend
free of charge eye screening offered by the AECP.

One of the key highlights of the year 2007 will be the Second Medical
International Congress to be held in Armenia in June. During the
conference the AECP will lead the Satellite Symposia on Ophthalmology
with the participation of world leading specialists and doctors from
Armenia. The Symposia will be followed by master classes conducted by
famous opthalmologists from around the world in the Wet Lab Center
recently established by the AECP with the generous donation from
Pfaiser International.

Summarizing the results of the year 2006, Ms. Yeghiazaryan stressed
that last year had been a year of considerable progress and growth
for the organization. "We managed to not only increase the number of
patients benefiting from the AECP services, but also to improve the
accessibility to eye care for the pouplation in some of the most
remote parts of Armenia," – Ms. Yeghiazaryan said.

The opening of the Education Center in Malayan Opthalmological Clinic
in April 2006 stressed the significance and value of the medical
education that the AECP constatnly promotes through various
initiatives. In the scope of the AECP’s medical training program, over
600 medical workers have improved their professional skills and
knowledge. Another important milestone for the AECP was the
inauguration of the Low Vision Clinic at the Kanaker-Zeitun Medical
Center. The Low Vision Clinic has been operational since October 2006
providing people with low vision with various services designed to
maximize patients’ existing vision and to help improve their quality
of life. In a constant effort to help eliminate preventable blindness
in Armenia since its inception in 1992 to date, the AECP has already
reached over 130,000 people across Armenia who benefited from high
quality eye care services offered in the scope of the project.

Founded in 1992, in the United States by an American-Armenian
ophthalmologist, Dr. Roger Ohanesian, the Armenian EyeCare Project
(AECP) is a California based nonprofit corporation dedicated to the
elimination of preventable blindness in Armenia. In 2002, the AECP
established an office in Yerevan and the following year launched its
Seven-Year Initiative, "Bringing Sight to Armenian Eyes." The
Initiative has five comprehensive, integrated components developed to
eliminate preventable blindness. They include direct patient care,
medical education and training, public education, research and
capacity building. The AECP has been a USAID partner since 2004.