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"I AM STILL WAITING FOR A MEETING WITH THE MINISTER OF HEALTH"
Sara Petrosyan
http://hetq.am/en/publichealth/jek-saroyan/
2010/05/24 | 15:08
Feature Stories public health
American-Armenian Dentist Proposes Preventative Oral Care Program
for Kids but Officials Appear Uninterested.
Jack Saroian, a Doctor of Dentistry, has been practicing dentistry in
San Francisco for the past forty years. He also teaches at the Faculty
of Dentistry at Pacific Ocean University. His first familiarity
with dentistry began at the age of fifteen through his sister who
was a dental technician and pharmacist at the time. After graduating
from high school, he studied at Berkeley and later at San Francisco
University. Upon graduating, he served for two years as a military
dentist and then continued his professional training in San Francisco,
while also teaching. For the past few years he has also taught public
health classes at the American University in Yerevan. Mr. Saroian
started to visit Armenia back in 1983. He says that he was interested
to see the level of the development in the field of dentistry back
in Soviet Armenia and today.
After the independence of Armenia, Jack Saroian was granted the
opportunity, as a member of the California Armenian Dental Association,
to travel to Armenia and offer free dental services to children. He
was worked in all of Armenia's regions, both urban and rural, and in
the towns of Shushi and Stepanakert in Artsakh. He has toured Armenia
five times between 1999 and 2005, dispensing free dental care to
Armenia's children.
"I've been to large and small towns, to the villages, so I know the
prevailing situation. The problems of kids when it comes to dental
hygiene and care are tremendous. Dentistry, as a profession, is at a
very low level. Dental services are provided free to children up till
the age of six. Older kids have to pay, but people aren't accustomed to
paying for dental care. Then, too, there are financial restrictions. I
realize that what is needed in Armenia is a preventative dental care
system to avert dental disease before it occurs," Mr. Saroian said.
Professor Saroian, in his capacity as a lecturer at the Science and
Research Center at the American University's Faculty of Health, he
got a chance to study the dental health of pupils at various Armenian
schools. Some five hundred pupils, aged 5-7 and 12-14, from all the
regions and two Yerevan schools, participated in the study. Results
showed that, on average, the kids in the target age groups had on
average eight rotten, broken or missing teeth. This compares with an
international standard of 3-4 such teeth for kids aged 5-7.
Interviewed pupils and dentists alike agreed that a majority of the
children in the age groups specified complain of tooth aches.
Professor Saroian presented his findings at a conference devoted to
adolescent dental health that took place in Yerevan last November. He
also proposed that table salt contain fluoride, a measure that would
at least partially prevent the onset of dental diseases.
Mr. Saroian noted that salt is not fluoridized in America and that
not many are aware that some two million Americans drink fluoridized
water. However, this method is widely practiced in about twenty five
countries, including France, Switzerland and Germany. He says that
by using fluoridized salt and water, tooth decay has been prevented
for the past fifty five years.
He says that the application of fluoride in the salt supports the
health of the oral cavity and the strengthening of tooth enamel, which,
in turn, decreases dental disease by 50-60%. "This means cutting
dental visits by half, 50% less cavities and 50% less physical and
mental stress. Still, we need to get regular check-ups," he said.
Changing the composition of the salt we eat to prevent tooth decay
is just one of the components of his overall preventative plan. "We
also have to retrain teachers in the schools, so that they can show
the kids the right way to brush and care for their teeth. We have to
instruct parents regarding providing their kids with healthy nutrition
and less sweets. Tooth decay can be cut by 60-80% through better diet,
better cleaning and less sweets," he said.
Professor Saroian said that all the interested parties in the field
were present at the conference; representatives from the World
Health Organization, to which Armenia belongs, UNICEF, specialist
from the University's Department of Dentistry, managers from the salt
production plant, and others. "They listened to my report and replied
that Armenia wasn't ready for such a program," Mr. Saroian said.
The Minster of Health was not present at the conference, but Deputy
Health Minister Tatul Hakobyan noted that this was the first study
of its kind in Armenia. After the conference, Mr. Saroian met with
Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan and she later filed a brief about
the proposals with RA President Serzh Sargsyan.
"I have brought back with me from the U.S. a person who is a specialist
with the technology. In his report he explained how the equipment
can be utilized to inject fluoride into the salt. We can have this
program up and running in the next 8-9 years at a cost of $700,000. I
was also able to locate a benefactor who is ready to finance the
project over this period," wrote Minister Hakobyan.
With Jack Saroian's active assistance, representatives of Armenia's
Health Ministry were able to attend a conference in Geneva in
2007 devoted to the health of the oral cavity, since Armenia is a
member of the WHO. It was noted at the conference that if governments
weren't able to fluoridize the water, the next best thing would be to
fluoridize the salt.. "The ministry representatives heard and saw it
all; it was taking place in front of them. But two years ago, when
he presented the findings of our study, the ministry said it wasn't
yet ready to implement such a scheme. They said that maybe Armenia
didn't need it because the country's air, water and soil contained
all which we need," Mr. Saroian said.
"They belittled my study," was his answer. He recounts that what truly
amazed him was that Armenia did not oppose the program, presented
twelve years ago by UNICEF, to iodize the salt as a way to fight
against goitre. The ministry of commerce arranged the whole thing
and directed salt manufacturers to implement the plan. At the time,
salt was supposed to be fluoridized as well, but it never happened.
Professor Saropian decided to expand the study since, as he says,
"there are many here who approach the issue with skepticism." To give
further weight to his study and the ensuing proposals, Professor
Saroian decided to examine the amount of fluoride ions in children
aged 3-5. So he traveled the regions and laboratory tested the
drinking water to see the amount of fluoride ions it contained. Her
says that such tests are unnecessary in those countries where the
water is fluoridated.
To conduct a new research study, Professor Saroian set down some
implementation deadlines after meeting with official from the Ministry
of Health in November 2009. According to the agreement reached, he
was supposed to have started on May 11. The ministry said it was ready
to place a laboratory at his disposal, as well as a car and a nurse,
to take samples from the kids for analysis. "Last week, however, when
I arrived in Armenia, they told me at the ministry that the issue was
still being reviewed and that a final decision had yet to be reached,"
Mr. Saroian said. He was forced to call his colleagues to postpone
their arrival to Armenia, even though they had paid for the flight
and hotel. Professor Saroian say that the ministry has known about
the project for the past 3-4 months but that no preparations were made.
"I am still waiting for a meeting with the Minister of Health. I am
very disappointed since they assured me that the project would take
place and they knew I was bringing other doctors with me. We could
have completed the study in eight days. The other two doctors are
specialists in public health and I have collaborated with them for
four years to get this program off the ground. I am not a specialist,
so I had to invite them from the States," said Mr. Saroian, adding
that he's tried to meet with the Minister of Health to resolve the
issue, but to no avail.
Narineh Beglaryan, who heads the Department of International Relations
at the Ministry, who faciitatated a review of the proposal to carry
out the study, finally called.
"I am not the person who can help you. Speak to someone else," she said
On May 4, Professor Saroian met with Deputy Health Minister Tatul
Hakobyan, who promised to discuss the matter with the minister and
to get back with the American-Armenian dentist the following day.
"The Deputy Minister never called. We've decided to put the whole
thing on ice for a while or to call it off. You just can't go into
schools and take samples from the kids without permission."
Professor Saroian hopes that the minister will at least wish to meet
with one of the specialists who has flown in from London. Otherwise,
they will have to decide their next move.
"Every time I come to Armenia, I am forced to spend more time here
on this program. But I wouldn't want to spend the time I have left
on this earth only on this one project," says Jack Saroian.
Editor - We await some clarification on the matter from the Ministry
of Health.
From: A. Papazian
Sara Petrosyan
http://hetq.am/en/publichealth/jek-saroyan/
2010/05/24 | 15:08
Feature Stories public health
American-Armenian Dentist Proposes Preventative Oral Care Program
for Kids but Officials Appear Uninterested.
Jack Saroian, a Doctor of Dentistry, has been practicing dentistry in
San Francisco for the past forty years. He also teaches at the Faculty
of Dentistry at Pacific Ocean University. His first familiarity
with dentistry began at the age of fifteen through his sister who
was a dental technician and pharmacist at the time. After graduating
from high school, he studied at Berkeley and later at San Francisco
University. Upon graduating, he served for two years as a military
dentist and then continued his professional training in San Francisco,
while also teaching. For the past few years he has also taught public
health classes at the American University in Yerevan. Mr. Saroian
started to visit Armenia back in 1983. He says that he was interested
to see the level of the development in the field of dentistry back
in Soviet Armenia and today.
After the independence of Armenia, Jack Saroian was granted the
opportunity, as a member of the California Armenian Dental Association,
to travel to Armenia and offer free dental services to children. He
was worked in all of Armenia's regions, both urban and rural, and in
the towns of Shushi and Stepanakert in Artsakh. He has toured Armenia
five times between 1999 and 2005, dispensing free dental care to
Armenia's children.
"I've been to large and small towns, to the villages, so I know the
prevailing situation. The problems of kids when it comes to dental
hygiene and care are tremendous. Dentistry, as a profession, is at a
very low level. Dental services are provided free to children up till
the age of six. Older kids have to pay, but people aren't accustomed to
paying for dental care. Then, too, there are financial restrictions. I
realize that what is needed in Armenia is a preventative dental care
system to avert dental disease before it occurs," Mr. Saroian said.
Professor Saroian, in his capacity as a lecturer at the Science and
Research Center at the American University's Faculty of Health, he
got a chance to study the dental health of pupils at various Armenian
schools. Some five hundred pupils, aged 5-7 and 12-14, from all the
regions and two Yerevan schools, participated in the study. Results
showed that, on average, the kids in the target age groups had on
average eight rotten, broken or missing teeth. This compares with an
international standard of 3-4 such teeth for kids aged 5-7.
Interviewed pupils and dentists alike agreed that a majority of the
children in the age groups specified complain of tooth aches.
Professor Saroian presented his findings at a conference devoted to
adolescent dental health that took place in Yerevan last November. He
also proposed that table salt contain fluoride, a measure that would
at least partially prevent the onset of dental diseases.
Mr. Saroian noted that salt is not fluoridized in America and that
not many are aware that some two million Americans drink fluoridized
water. However, this method is widely practiced in about twenty five
countries, including France, Switzerland and Germany. He says that
by using fluoridized salt and water, tooth decay has been prevented
for the past fifty five years.
He says that the application of fluoride in the salt supports the
health of the oral cavity and the strengthening of tooth enamel, which,
in turn, decreases dental disease by 50-60%. "This means cutting
dental visits by half, 50% less cavities and 50% less physical and
mental stress. Still, we need to get regular check-ups," he said.
Changing the composition of the salt we eat to prevent tooth decay
is just one of the components of his overall preventative plan. "We
also have to retrain teachers in the schools, so that they can show
the kids the right way to brush and care for their teeth. We have to
instruct parents regarding providing their kids with healthy nutrition
and less sweets. Tooth decay can be cut by 60-80% through better diet,
better cleaning and less sweets," he said.
Professor Saroian said that all the interested parties in the field
were present at the conference; representatives from the World
Health Organization, to which Armenia belongs, UNICEF, specialist
from the University's Department of Dentistry, managers from the salt
production plant, and others. "They listened to my report and replied
that Armenia wasn't ready for such a program," Mr. Saroian said.
The Minster of Health was not present at the conference, but Deputy
Health Minister Tatul Hakobyan noted that this was the first study
of its kind in Armenia. After the conference, Mr. Saroian met with
Diaspora Minister Hranush Hakobyan and she later filed a brief about
the proposals with RA President Serzh Sargsyan.
"I have brought back with me from the U.S. a person who is a specialist
with the technology. In his report he explained how the equipment
can be utilized to inject fluoride into the salt. We can have this
program up and running in the next 8-9 years at a cost of $700,000. I
was also able to locate a benefactor who is ready to finance the
project over this period," wrote Minister Hakobyan.
With Jack Saroian's active assistance, representatives of Armenia's
Health Ministry were able to attend a conference in Geneva in
2007 devoted to the health of the oral cavity, since Armenia is a
member of the WHO. It was noted at the conference that if governments
weren't able to fluoridize the water, the next best thing would be to
fluoridize the salt.. "The ministry representatives heard and saw it
all; it was taking place in front of them. But two years ago, when
he presented the findings of our study, the ministry said it wasn't
yet ready to implement such a scheme. They said that maybe Armenia
didn't need it because the country's air, water and soil contained
all which we need," Mr. Saroian said.
"They belittled my study," was his answer. He recounts that what truly
amazed him was that Armenia did not oppose the program, presented
twelve years ago by UNICEF, to iodize the salt as a way to fight
against goitre. The ministry of commerce arranged the whole thing
and directed salt manufacturers to implement the plan. At the time,
salt was supposed to be fluoridized as well, but it never happened.
Professor Saropian decided to expand the study since, as he says,
"there are many here who approach the issue with skepticism." To give
further weight to his study and the ensuing proposals, Professor
Saroian decided to examine the amount of fluoride ions in children
aged 3-5. So he traveled the regions and laboratory tested the
drinking water to see the amount of fluoride ions it contained. Her
says that such tests are unnecessary in those countries where the
water is fluoridated.
To conduct a new research study, Professor Saroian set down some
implementation deadlines after meeting with official from the Ministry
of Health in November 2009. According to the agreement reached, he
was supposed to have started on May 11. The ministry said it was ready
to place a laboratory at his disposal, as well as a car and a nurse,
to take samples from the kids for analysis. "Last week, however, when
I arrived in Armenia, they told me at the ministry that the issue was
still being reviewed and that a final decision had yet to be reached,"
Mr. Saroian said. He was forced to call his colleagues to postpone
their arrival to Armenia, even though they had paid for the flight
and hotel. Professor Saroian say that the ministry has known about
the project for the past 3-4 months but that no preparations were made.
"I am still waiting for a meeting with the Minister of Health. I am
very disappointed since they assured me that the project would take
place and they knew I was bringing other doctors with me. We could
have completed the study in eight days. The other two doctors are
specialists in public health and I have collaborated with them for
four years to get this program off the ground. I am not a specialist,
so I had to invite them from the States," said Mr. Saroian, adding
that he's tried to meet with the Minister of Health to resolve the
issue, but to no avail.
Narineh Beglaryan, who heads the Department of International Relations
at the Ministry, who faciitatated a review of the proposal to carry
out the study, finally called.
"I am not the person who can help you. Speak to someone else," she said
On May 4, Professor Saroian met with Deputy Health Minister Tatul
Hakobyan, who promised to discuss the matter with the minister and
to get back with the American-Armenian dentist the following day.
"The Deputy Minister never called. We've decided to put the whole
thing on ice for a while or to call it off. You just can't go into
schools and take samples from the kids without permission."
Professor Saroian hopes that the minister will at least wish to meet
with one of the specialists who has flown in from London. Otherwise,
they will have to decide their next move.
"Every time I come to Armenia, I am forced to spend more time here
on this program. But I wouldn't want to spend the time I have left
on this earth only on this one project," says Jack Saroian.
Editor - We await some clarification on the matter from the Ministry
of Health.
From: A. Papazian