PRESS RELEASE
Hayastan All-Armenian Fund
Governmental Buiding 3, Yerevan, RA
Contact: Hasmik Grigoryan
Tel: +(3741) 56 01 06 ext. 105
Fax: +(3741) 52 15 05
E-mail: pr@himnadram.org
Web:

20 May, 2010

Opening ceremony at Maternity Ward in St. Astvatsamayr Medical Center

Yerevan, May 13, 2010 – The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s annual Board of
Trustees meeting on May 14 was preceded by a string of noteworthy
accomplishments, celebrated by the opening ceremonies of five different
projects.

The events, which took place in Armenia and Artsakh, culminated symbolically
in the inauguration of the renovated Maternity Ward at Yerevan’s
St.Astvatsamayr Medical Center on May 12. All five opening ceremonies were
attended by the fund’s trustees and scores of affiliate representatives, who
had traveled to Yerevan from throughout the world for the 19th annual Board
meeting.

At the opening ceremony of the Maternity Ward, the honor of cutting the red
ribbon was given to chairperson Armineh Carapeti, chair of the fund’s
British affiliate, which had financed the reconstruction of the medical
facility. The jubilant occasion was attended by Republic of Armenia Health
Minister Harutyun Kushkyan, Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan, Hayastan
All-Armenian Fund Executive Director Ara Vardanyan, and numerous other
guests.

The official opening of the refurbished Maternity Ward, located in the
densely populated Southwestern district of Yerevan, marked the conclusion of
an extensive reconstruction effort, which the fund implemented in two phases
during the past two years. The project comprised the complete renovation of
some 1,300 square meters on the second and third floors, including upgrades
to the electrical and air-conditioning systems with the latest technologies,
and installation of new water pipes, and extensive internal renovation.
These far-reaching improvements have resulted in a thoroughly modern, fully
equipped maternity ward capable of providing optimal care to mothers and
newborns alike, in a comfortable, pleasant, and nurturing environment.

"The future of our nation depends, first and foremost, on the physical
well-being of our people," Ms.Carapeti pointed said. Her conviction is
shared by hundreds of British-Armenian donors who have contributed to the
St.Astvatsamayr Medical Center Maternity Ward project. Major benefactors of
the initiative include Anahid Association of London, which has financed the
renovation of three delivery rooms, and the Demirdjian family, whose
contribution in memory of Hrayr Demirdjian has made possible the
modernization of the surgery. Other benefactors include the St. Sarkis
Church Ladies’ Committee and the Tahta family.

Commenting on his impressions of the opening ceremony and the project as a
whole, Ara Vardanyan said, "The joyous faces of physicians, nurses, new
mothers, and every single guest at the inauguration are the most eloquent
testament to the success of the initiative."

On his part, Armen Grigoryan, director of the Obstetrics Unit at
St.Astvatsamayr, said that the Maternity Ward’s vastly enhanced capabilities
will result in a considerable rise in the number of deliveries at the
facility. Prior to the renovations, the ward’s technical shortcomings meant
that it had to limit the number of its deliveries to 1,400 per year, with
numerous expectant mothers redirected to other hospitals for lack of
appropriate wards. Today six deliveries can be accommodated at any one given
time.

"Now that we have state-of-the-art surgical and delivery equipment, and our
renovated facility ensures every conceivable comfort and convenience,
including lavatories in all patient rooms, we are able to provide medical
care of the highest quality," said Jenni Hovsepyan, director of the
Maternity Ward.

The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s British affiliate continues to rally the
British-Armenian community around critically important projects in Armenia
and Artsakh. It was announced that the next major initiative to be sponsored
by the affiliate which is the reconstruction of the Kapan Pediatric
Hospital, in Armenia’s Syunik Region, has already commenced.

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Hayastan All Armenian Fund