COAF CARRIES OUT DENTAL AND EYE CARE PROGRAMS IN SIX COMMUNITIES

YEREVAN, JULY 24, ARMENPRESS: The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) continues to upgrade and expand the healthcare component of its ”Integrated Rural Development Program” in Armavir.

During eight weeks in June and July, the communities of Argina, Dalarik, Karakert, Lernagog, Myasnikyan, and Shenik were the beneficiaries of the scheduled screening stops by the dental and eye care mobile clinics. Also in this period, COAF conducted training in all six communities in reproductive health and rights. An official from COAF informed Armenpress that 233 schoolchildren participated in the dental care project. In a series of scheduled stops on the school grounds of each of the Model Cluster communities, these children were diagnosed and treated in the mobile dental clinic.

Similarly, the AECP Bringing Sight to Armenian Eyes initiative brought the Mobile Eye Hospital to the Model Cluster villages to identify eye problems, screen patients and provide follow-on treatment, as needed. In this year’s program, 433 adults and 1,143 children were examined. Of those examined, 192 adults and 87 children were diagnosed with problems and treated and 31 adults and 55 children were referred to specialized hospitals for follow-on treatment. Additionally, 46 adults from socially disadvantaged families received free subscription glasses.

The third project ”Raising Awareness of Women in Reproductive Health and Rights” is an integral part of COAF’s Community Health Education program the goal of which was to improve the quality of life of women in the Model Cluster communities.

The project aimed at identifying reproductive health risks and violation of women’s rights and raising their awareness on reproductive rights, behavioral risks and prevention of gender-based violence.

During the project implementation period, COAF conducted focus group discussions and surveys, developed educational materials for training 30 trainers, who subsequently held training sessions for larger groups throughout the Model Cluster. In addition, information pamphlets were published and distributed widely. The project benefited around 1,400 women from COAF’s six communities.