AAHPO FUNDRAISER AT NY STOCK EXCHANGE BENEFITS EYECARE PROJECT, VOSKEVAN CLINIC
By Florence Avakian
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December 2, 2009
It was at a world famous location, the New York Stock Exchange, that
the Armenian American Health Professionals Organization (AAHPO) of New
York, New Jersey, and Connecticut held a well-attended, successful
fundraiser on Nov. 6. Two worthy and important projects were the
recipients of the proceeds-AAHPO’s Voskevan Clinic in Armenia and
the Armenian Eye Care Project, which has already provided free eye
care to 20 percent of Armenia’s poorest people.
The enthusiastic crowd of more than 150, which weaved in and out of
America’s capitalistic center, was warmly welcomed by AAHPO Board vice
president Dr. Arthur Kubikian, standing on a platform high above the
famous hall. Tireless AAHPO Board president Dr. Lawrence Najarian, in
striking a "symbolic bell" rather than the stock exchange’s opening
bell, declared that "we stand ready to help provide the basic human
right to good health for our brothers and sisters."
Impressive Accomplishments
Giving just a few examples of the impact the donations make, he
revealed that $1,000 buys insulin for 100 diabetics for one year
in Armenia; $1,000 also services an entire Armenian village with
a dental-mobile with two dentists and two staff for 30 days. In
the Voskevan village, very close to Azerbaijan, he announced that a
seven-room clinic will replace the decaying, bombed-out kindergarten
currently used to provide medical and dental services to 4,000
poverty-stricken people.
In this country, he pointed out that in three New Jersey counties,
in collaboration with the North Hudson Community Action Corporation,
AAHPO has provided free medical care to any Armenian adult and child
with no insurance and unable to pay. Donations have also been earmarked
for AAHPO’s public education programs, including the Diabetes Awareness
Day on in New Jersey and the medical alerts on the AAHPO.org website.
Another recipient of the contributions is the tele-medicine initiative
in collaboration with Armenia Fund USA which uses the internet "to
collaborate with and train medical professionals in the most remote
areas of Armenia," Najarian noted.
A congratulatory message from Armenia’s ambassador to the United
Nations, Garen Nazarian, and read by deputy permanent representative,
Lilit Toutkhalian, related that "programs in Armenia and for Armenia
are of special importance since improved and modern medical services in
Armenia require a cohort of well-educated, dedicated professionals who
can put Armenia on the map of the world’s advanced medical societies
and contribute to the wellbeing of the Armenian people."
Monumental Accomplishments
Dr. Roger Ohanesian, the dedicated head of the Eye Care Project in
Armenia, detailed the monumental accomplishments of the program. "More
than 50 ophthalmologists who have supported us have taught and
performed surgeries in Armenia. In addition, Armenian doctors have been
trained in the U.S. on a year-long fellowship. When they’ve returned,
we’ve made sure they had all the needed equipment, and they established
specialty clinics," Ohanesian said with obvious pride.
"The goal was also to make the ophthalmology departments in Armenia
self-sufficient."
One of the greatest achievements of the Eye Care Project has been the
Mobile Eye Hospital, which is equipped with a full operating room and
two examination rooms, and has made four rotations throughout Armenia,
servicing almost 350,000 patients.
Twenty percent of Armenia’s population has been examined, Ohanesian
announced proudly. "Now other Armenians have built eye clinics in
regions outside Yerevan-in Gyumri, Osterak, Garagunik, and Karabagh-and
are seeing patients in a similar model to what we have done. Now we
don’t have to go to these areas. They are becoming self-sustaining,"
he said, adding, "the Eye Care Project has been so successful that
other countries and the U.S. send medical residents to Armenia for
pathological training."
During the festive evening, guests enjoyed delicious hors d’oeuvres
and a silent auction, which was held under the direction of Dr. Aram
Cazazian and featured donated gifts.
The hardworking volunteers whose work brought the event to a successful
fruition included Drs. Armand Asarian, Garbis Baydar, Aram Cazazian,
Knarig Khatchadurian, Tsoline Kojaoghlanian, Arthur Kubikian, and
Louiza Puskulian Kubikian. Also in the dedicated group were Suzy
Davidkhanian, Kathy Feredjian, Saro Hartounian, Lucy Hayrabedian,
Lory Karakashian, Nadine Koobatian, Judith Lee, Lori McCann, Christina
Najarian, and Magda Najarian.