The Armenia Fund upgrades Hospitals

[Ashot]

The Armenia Fund upgrades Yerevan Nork Infectious and Kanaker-Zeitun Hospitals

 

09.04.2008 11:08

 

The Armenia Fund is announces the completion of its renovation projects at the Nork Infectious hospital and Kanaker-Zeitun Medical Center in Yerevan.

 

The Fund has long acquired a reputation for its commitment to doing several projects in succession in one establishment, once it has embarked on one; the projects being based either on the project proposal from the beneficiary or the wish of the donor. Thus, four renovation projects were carried out at the Nork Infectious hospital and three at the Kanaker-Zeitun medical center.

 

At the beginning of April 2008, renovation of the third and fourth floors of the four-storied building, the roof, as well as construction of a boiler to support heating at the Nork hospital were accomplished. The whole project with the budget of around 62,973,482 AMD was implemented thanks to the generous funding by the Armenia Fund Brazilian local committee.

 

Renovation activities at the Nork hospital for 2005-2007 comprised renovation of the roof, ICU (intensive care unit), pediatric department of infectious diseases, located accordingly on the first and second floors of the hospital. The project with the total cost of 59,112,497 AMD was sponsored through the Armenia Fund Brazilian local committee. Subsequently, the embassy of Brazil in Yerevan and the Armenia Fund, with the support of the Armenian Diaspora in Brazil, funded the two-storied building’s heating system through the construction of a boiler house.

 

Ara Asoyan, chief infectiologist of the Nork hospital warmly thanked the Armenia Fund for the thorough work carried out at the hospital and emphasized the need for adequate clinics and hospitals to support public health in the country. “We are grateful to the Fund and our friends in Brazil for what they have done for the hospital. In particular, we appreciate the way with which the specific needs of the hospital were considered and taken care of. Good conditions are an important part of patients’ recovery; however, we should not forget that they also inspire the medical staff to perform to the best of their abilities” said Mr. Asoyan. According to the chief infectiologist the hospital has constructed a gas distribution substation which will support the boiler’s work.

 

The Armenia Fund Executive Director Vahe Aghabegians was pleased with the quality of the work done. “The need for good quality healthcare is a universal issue in Armenia, as it is elsewhere. A number of health institutions in Yerevan are still falling short of modern standards and the Armenia Fund’s support is critical in the capital as it is in the regions,” Mr. Aghabegians said.

 

“Thanks to proper heating in the wards, our patients have been receiving appropriate medical service in the last year and a half,” pointed out Mr. Zardaryan, deputy head of the hospital. According to him, 273 patients in the ICU and 681 in the Pediatric Infectious Unit received treatment in 2007.

 

The most recent renovation project at Kanaker-Zeitun Medical Center was funded mainly through the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Great Britain local committee, with a contribution of 8,345,400 AMD towards the total cost. Three rooms of the Diagnostics Unit were reconstructed and refurbished using a donation from Hagop and Sirvart Haroutounian, as well as a donation in memory of the late Nishan Ohanian. The high standard of hygiene in these rooms, which now meets Health and Safety standards, is a far cry from the derelict and crumbling rooms that served no purpose. Hasmik Margaryan, the head of the department summarised her assessment of the new conditions saying, “The layout and finished look of the rooms matters a great deal.”

 

The Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s Great Britain local committee has also financed three wards in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit of the Kanaker-Zeitun Medical Center (2004-2005), in memory of the late Hagop Klenjian, as well as reconstruction of the Paediatric and Gynaecological operating rooms and Post-anaesthesia Recovery Units (2005-2007) in memory of the late Alice Margossian.

 

“Health care is a priority area for the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Great Britain local committee. During these past few years many families have approached us wanting to donate money for reconstruction of hospitals and clinics in memory of a late family member. It is not unusual at all to have one project following another in the same institution, and this is the case with this medical center,” says Armineh Carapeti, Chairperson of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Great Britain local committee.

 

Public Radio of Armenia