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PRESS RELEASE
Monday, March 12, 2007
AGBU Donates Twelve New Ultrasound Machines to Armenia and Javakhk
YEREVAN, Armenia – In an official ceremony held on March 6, 2007 at
the Jefferson Ultrasound Training Center, AGBU, on behalf of AGBU
Trustee Nazar Nazarian, donated 12 ultrasound machines at a cost of
$290,000 to state health establishments of the Republic of Armenia and
the predominantly Armenian region of Javakhk in neighboring Georgia.
The machines will be donated to the Sisian Hospital, ARS Mother and
Child Health Center of Akhuryan, St. Grikor Lusavorich Hospital and
Maternity House in Yerevan, Akhalkalak Hospital, Berd Hospital, Nairi
Hospital of Yeghvart, "Gracia" international reconstructive center of
the Armenian Red Cross, Cardio and Radiology departments of Yerevan
State Medical University’s #1 Hospital, as well as to the Jefferson
Ultrasound Training Center in Yerevan. Included on the list of
recipients for these hi-tech machines are parts of the republic where
there is no such modern equipment, as well as Javakhk.
These machines ensure quick and secure diagnoses of diseases in the
early stage. Ultrasound is a safe and relatively inexpensive method
for imaging the body. These ultrasound machines have color Doppler
capability, which enables specialists to make state-of-art diagnoses
of a wide array of diseases involving blood vessels, the heart, and
other internal organs.
"The main advantage of these machines is that it is possible to ensure
two new examinations, cardiographic and vascular, as well as provide
emergency assistance to people with fractures and unconscious
patients," said Head of the Yerevan State Medical University Radiology
Chair, Dr. Andreas Hambardzumian.
"Last year we donated 10 such machines to the health establishments of
Yerevan and the regions of Goris and Kapan, as well as Karabakh. The
program will continue and be regularly renewed," said Ashot Ghazarian,
AGBU Armenian Representation Director.
The doctors that will work with these machines in the future undergo
training courses in the Jefferson Ultrasound Training Center under the
supervision of its co-directors Dr. Andreas Hambardzumian and
Dr. Hmayak Sissakian and with the participation of specialists from
the United States. The new ultrasound-trained doctors will not only
acquire the skills necessary to work with the machines, but also get
acquainted with innovations in the fields of tomography, sonography
and echocardiography. Experienced doctors also receive instruction in
ultrasound research. It is worth noting that the Center is regularly
updated with a vast array of academic materials (journals, videos,
etc.) that arrive from abroad.
The Ultrasound Center will help maintain the connection between the
hospitals that received the machines and the doctors that received
training to work on them. Regular follow-up courses and consultations
will be organized to keep them current and informed.
During the press conference, Ghazarian noted that the initial idea for
the Ultrasound Center originated with Dr. Levon Nazarian, Professor of
Radiology and Vice Chairman for Education at Thomas Jefferson
University Hospital, and was facilitated with generous funding
provided by Nazar Nazarian, formerly treasurer of the AGBU Central
Board of Directors and currently a member of the organization’s newly
formed Board of Trustees. Recently, Dr. Nazarian became a member of
AGBU’s Central Board of Director.
Yerkir Media TV company () has placed its video
material of the above-mentioned distribution ceremony on its Internet
site, and it can be viewed-in Armenian-at the following URL:
;page=1& amp;id=1409.
Established in 2000, Yerevan’s Jefferson Ultrasound Training Center
was founded as a joint venture of Yerevan State Medical University,
Jefferson Ultrasound Research and Education Institute of Thomas
Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, and AGBU. More than
100 doctors and medical internship program students from Armenia,
India, Pakistan and Russia have completed training courses at the
Ultrasound Center.
AGBU is the largest Armenian nonprofit organization in the world. It
promotes the Armenian heritage through educational, cultural,
humanitarian, and media projects. For more information on AGBU and its
projects in Armenia, please visit