THE COUNTRY MUST TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Karine Safaryan
KarabakhOpen
06-11-2007 17:21:17
Dozens of people in Karabakh have spine injuries and are taking
treatment at Caroline Cox Rehabilitation Center in Stepanakert. One
of the gravest problems of people who cannot walk is pressure ulcer
which may take a fatal turn.
"When I arrived in Stepanakert many years ago to set up the
rehabilitation center here I could not meet any of my former
patients from Karabakh whom I had treated at the Red Cross hospital
in Yerevan. They had died of pressure ulcer," tells the director of
the Rehabilitation Center Vardan Tadevosyan. "When we launched the
educational program in 1999 for the staff in Stepanakert, we started
visiting them at home and treating them, otherwise they would not
live until the opening of the Center."
Vardan Tadevosyan says the best way out is plastic surgery which
requires a two-month period of adaptation. Recently the Vita NGO
has invited two specialists from Yerevan who operated two people
with disabilities.
"Two underwent operation, and now they are taking post-surgical
treatment at the Center. I think there is no need to invite specialists
from Yerevan every time, there are good surgeons in Stepanakert as
well. We only need to cooperate with them. Nevertheless, this effort
is highly necessary," says the director of the Center.
Presently there are 10 people in Karabakh suffering from grave
ulcers. They are getting medicine from the Center, the staff provides
medical care at home and at the center.
The Rehabilitation Center is currently implementing a program
with Jinishian Memorial Foundation. The organization intends to
provide assistance to people with first category disabilities in
Karabakh. Currently the Center and the organization are conducting
monitoring in the region to make the list of people who will get
assistance within 6-7 months. The program includes buying special
equipment for people suffering from pressure ulcer.
Such programs have strategic importance because, Vardan Tadevosyan
says, "the country must take care of people with disabilities who
lost their health in defending the homeland."