Upon the receipt of the building blueprint from the local government, ARK engineer and contractors will draft out a detailed report projecting the total estimated cost of renovations/construction, excluding the roof which has already been accounted for. This figure should be available by end of March 2009.

Renovating the entire building will significantly increase the size of the ambulatory and allow us to implement many more value added programs to the community such as infectious disease and HIV/AIDS programs, women’s health, geriatric programs, mental health, physical therapy as well as alternative health. Moreover, it will create the possibility of jobs within the community. This area will be discussed in detail in the future as it is not part of the Phase I of the project.

During the first phase of the project, medical equipments and pharmaceuticals will also be secured by RMF.  The facility has very limited and outdated equipment and the availability and access to medications is limited.  RMF is also working with the Health Ministry to establish a comprehensive children’s vaccination program and protocol.

Partnership with a local Armenian (NGO)

One of the key protocol requirements in our humanitarian missions throughout the world is forming a partnership with a non-governmental organization (NGO) within each country we serve.  If an NGO does not exist in a particular country, then RMF establishes one.
After several meetings with key informants and officials, and based on NGO track record and history, RMF chose to partner with the Armenian Relief Society’s Goris branch.  This branch is located in Goris which is approximately one hour from Shinuhayr.  Chairwoman, Ms. Stella Arzumanyan, is our primary contact with the NGO. 
The Armenian Relief Society, Inc. is an independent, non-governmental and non-sectarian organization which serves the humanitarian needs of the Armenian people and seeks to preserve the cultural identity of the Armenian nation.  It is the oldest Armenian women’s organization, established in 1910 in New York City. Since its foundation, the ARS, Inc. has provided educational and humanitarian assistance to Armenians everywhere. Today, the ARS, Inc. has entities in 24 countries where members of the Society contribute to their communities and the larger world for the betterment of all humankind.
The ARS, Inc. also collaborates with international humanitarian and government organizations, such as USAID, World Health Organization, World Council of Churches, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and various Red Cross affiliates. The ARS, Inc. is a roster member of the United Nations’ Economic and Social Committee (ECOSOC) and is an active participant in ECOSOC’s many working groups.
ARS will function as a catalyst and mediator between RMF and all other entities we need to work with in Armenia to be able to effectively implement our project.

The People of Shinuhayr

During our stay in the village we visited with six families living in extremely poor and dire conditions.  Due to time restraints and below zero temperatures, we were unable to visit and interview more of the villagers. 

Despite their lack of resources due to extreme poverty, these people portrayed an amazing spirit.  As we entered their homes, they greeted us with much warmth and kindness.  One family insisted that we sit down and break bread with them.  Their kitchen was comprised of a table in the corner and was part of the only room where all six of the family members lived in. We could see half a loaf of bread and a pitcher of water.  That was all they had and all they wanted to do was to offer it to us. We were truly touched by their genuine hospitality.  Their stories were sad but they never complained; they thanked God for their smallest blessings. These people do not have access to work where they can secure an earned income.  An economic infrastructure in the village is non-existent.  During spring and summer seasons the villagers keep themselves busy with agriculture and farming.  However, that quickly ends as fall and winter temperatures hit the region.

RMF is working with individuals who have expressed interest in sponsoring some of these families to help ameliorate their living conditions and increase their quality of life. 

Life in Shinuhayr

Summary of Achievements from this Trip:

1. Obtained permit to work in Armenia issued by Ministry of Health.
2. Partnership formed with local Armenian NGO.
3. Government architect to issue building blueprint to ARK Construction Company by end of March 2009.
4. Final roof renovation estimate: Between $73,228.00 - $79,950.00 USD.
5. Final building renovation estimate to be issued by ARK.
6. Continued collaboration and meetings with our government and NGO partner.
7. Funding is being secured by:
1. Grants
2. Charity/Fundraiser events
3. Personal donations

Mr. & Mrs. Varoujan and Inna Gostanyan-Geokjyan provided us with room and board throughout our stay.  This lovely couple humbly volunteered and opened their door to RMF and took care of us as if we were family.  Their home was very old and worn down; water and electricity was limited and a small heating lamp was all there was to keep us warm in the below zero freezing temperatures.  However, their love was immense and they made us feel like royalty.

Since the germination of the idea for the RMF-Armenia Clinic project in April of 2008, we have had considerable progress. The needs assessment for the project was completed by independent consultant Dr. Alina Dorian, upon which we were able to identify the exact location and primary care services and programs RMF will implement.

The Republic of Armenia is a small, mountainous country located in southwestern Asia, between the Caucasus and Near Asia (the area between the Kur and Araks rivers). The country is bordered by Georgia and Azerbaijan on the north and east, and by Turkey and Iran on the west and south.

The country is subdivided into 11 regions (marzes) which include: Shirak, Lori, Tavush, Aragatzotn, Kotayk, Armavir, Ararat, Gegharkunik, Vaytoz Dzor, Syunik and Yerevan which is Armenia’s capital.

The present health system of Armenia has a well developed structure and network. However, the system is largely focused on tertiary care which has created great deficiencies in the primary health system. Generally, the quality of medical care is quite low. The health care reform strategy in Armenia is focusing on strengthening primary health care services, promoting health and the prevention of disease and shifting planning models from a narrow biomedical one to a more integrated, holistic, multisectoral approach.

Historically, the state budget was the primary funding source for health care. Currently, the health system is financed both from local and international sources. The main local sources are the state budget and direct out-of-pocket payments by the population. International financing sources are general humanitarian donations and project-specific support.

Based on Dr. Dorian’s assessment, demographic and health data and meetings with key health personnel, the Syunik Marz was selected as the geographic area to target. Meetings were then held with the Health Director for the Syunik Marz as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations working in the Marz. Based on those meetings and RMF’s mission and capabilities, the village of Shinuhayr with a population of 2,300 was selected as the project site.

Marz: Syunik
Village: Shinuhayr
Population: approx: 2,300
Children <5 years of age: 280
In 2007: 27 births; 19 deaths

The ambulatory in Shinuhayr is a government run health care facility. It is a large Soviet-style building which originally housed the outpatient unit as well as a maternity ward and in-patient units. At present, only a small wing of the building is utilized to provide outpatient ambulatory care. The Ambulatory serves as a referral site for many surrounding villages since it has resident physicians. Most villages in Armenia, including those surrounding Shinuhayr, only staff a nurse or a feldsher (nurse practitioner). Therefore the Shinuhayr ambulatory is a pivotal medical resource in the region.

The building is in disrepair. Over 8 years ago, only a few rooms were cosmetically renovated. The capital expense for the program will be in the initial renovation of the outpatient wing of the clinic. This renovation needs to include the flooring, doors and windows, the water and sanitation system, as well as parts of the roof. Water and sanitation are extremely important in the provision of quality health care services. The identified project engineer will need to provide further detail on the present existing system and how to improve it.

To provide a comprehensive and holistic approach, the RMF-Armenia project will focus on four components through which it will help to build local capacity and implement a sustainable program.

The four project components are:
1) Renovation of ambulatory clinic
2) Provision of basic medical supplies and pharmaceuticals
3) Training of health care staff
4) Implementation of community- wide health education outreach programs

Funding for this project is being secured by grants and personal donations. We need your support.
To make a personal contribution, please click here.

Thank you for your support!

Armenia is one of the world’s oldest civilizations located in the southern Caucasus and is the smallest of the former Soviet republics.  It lies in the highlands surrounding the Biblical mountains of Ararat, upon which, as Judeo-Christian theology states, Noah’s Ark came to rest after the flood (Gen 8:4). Armenia was the first country in the world to officially embrace Christianity as its religion in 300 A.D.  Upon the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia declared its independence on September 23, 1991 as a free democratic country.

Armenia has an estimated population of 3,000,000 people of which 70.3% are between 15-64 years. The life expectancy at birth is 72.4 years.  The conditions that account for the biggest burden of disease are cardiovascular disease and neuropsychiatric illness.  Tobacco and high cholesterol level are the dominant risk factors for men, while the main risk factors for women are excess weight and high blood pressure (WHO).

The quality and accessibility of health services for children and mothers in Armenia, particularly in rural areas remain poor.  Immunization Coverage Survey conducted in 2006 jointly by UNICEF and Ministry of Health indicated that the rate of fully immunized children has dropped to 42%. 

It is estimated that 42.9% of the country live below the poverty line. Like other New Independent States of the former Soviet Union, Armenia's economy still suffers from the legacy of a centrally planned economy and the breakdown of former Soviet trading networks. In addition, the effects of the 1988 earthquake, which killed more than 25,000 people and made 500,000 homeless, are still being felt, though international donors and diaspora Armenian groups continue to fund reconstruction efforts in the earthquake zone.

Real Medicine Foundation is currently working toward its goal to establish a primary care clinic in Armenia which will provide free medical, preventative and public health services to the population in need. At this time we are working to identify the area with the greatest number of people living in poverty that have no or very limited access to health and medical care.