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ARMENIAN EYECARE PROJECT'S 38TH MEDICAL MISSION AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
asbarez
Monday, August 1st, 2011
Dr. Thomas Lee examines a premie
'One Year Later-36 Infants Saved from a Lifetime of Blindness'
Since its founding it 1992, the Project has undertaken medical
missions to Armenia twice a year. The 37th Medical Mission in June
2010, launched the Project's Infant Blindness Initiative-"Prevention
of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Armenia." The purpose of the
mission was to train Armenian physicians in the care of premature
babies-specifically, to identify and treat Retinopathy of Prematurity
(ROP). All babies born prematurely are susceptible to this disease.
"One Year Later" -36 infants saved from a lifetime of blindness. The
EyeCare Project's July 2011 Conference, as part of the Medical Mission,
reported on the exciting progress, accomplishments and the future
programs of the Infant Blindness Initiative, "National Program of
Retinopathy of Prematurity." The sponsors of the conference included
the EyeCare Project, its partner in the Initiative, the Vision Center
of Los Angeles Children's Hospital, the Armenian Ministry of Health
and USAID.
More than100 Armenian ophthalmologists and neonatologists attended
the International Conference, held on July 15 -16 in Yerevan,
to learn about the results of year one and the programs planned
for 2011, and beyond. Led by Dr. Thomas Lee, Director of the
Retina Institute at the Vision Center of Los Angeles Children's
Hospital and Dr. Elisabeth Raab, Deputy Medical Director at the
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, they summarized the results
of the first year of the ROP screening and treatment program and
outlined future plans. Dr. Ruzanna Harutyunyan-AECP Fellow trained
in the United States-a pediatric ophthalmologist and coordinator of
the ROP program in Armenia also participated along with some of her
Armenian colleagues.
The most exciting news of the conference was the announcement that
over 400 Armenian infants have been screened since the program was
launched last year and 36 infants received laser surgery, at no cost
to their families, saving them from a lifetime of blindness. The
project was able to accomplish this because of the equipment donated
by extraordinarily generous benefactors over the last year. Dr.
Ohanesian was also proud to announce to the conference that the ROP
national program in Armenia has been so successful that it has the
potential to become a model for other developing countries.
Following the lecture sessions of the conference the participants
moved to the hospitals where Dr. Thomas Lee examined infants with
his Armenian colleagues. He demonstrated advanced techniques in eye
screening and treatment and all cases were analyzed. An extensive
debriefing meeting concluded the second day of the Conference.
Prevention. During the conference a special emphasis was made
on the importance of cooperation between ophthalmologists and
neonatologists in oxygen supply regulation and control as a major
factor in the prevention of ROP. The AECP plans to support the
Armenian neonatologists in two major capacity building directions:
import and installation of necessary oxygen control equipment and
advanced training of Armenian specialists.
Dr. Elisabeth Raab met with the neonatal staff at several NICUs in
Yerevan. She was quite impressed by the capacity of the Armenian
doctors who manage to provide quality care to infants with minimal
resources. She said that with more advanced equipment they will be
able to significantly improve neonatal care, which will be a major
factor in the prevention of ROP in Armenia.
What is Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)? Retinopathy of Prematurity
(ROP) is a devastating disease that affects infants born prematurely
and leads to blindness in a matter of weeks. The enormous economic
and social burden of lifelong blindness makes it absolutely critical
to treat this disease.
Up to 60 percent of infants born at less than seven to eight months
(30 weeks) develop some form of the disease and 10 percent will
progress to the advanced form. If left untreated, the advanced form of
ROP causes rapid and irreversible blindness due to retinal scarring
and detachment. However, timely and repeated examinations of at-risk
infants and the application of laser treatments will lead to a complete
regression in the disease in up to 90 percent of these tiny patients.
Developing nations like Armenia have only recently developed neonatal
intensive care units (NICUs) to provide the necessary inpatient
medical care to infants born prematurely. Over the past 10 years,
Armenia has established seven NICUs in Yerevan and a handful in remote
rural areas. These units now treat approximately 1,600 premature
infants per year and this number is expected to grow. Because ROP is
a disease affecting premature infants, Armenia now faces a sudden and
dramatic rise in the number of children going blind. Unfortunately,
over the past 10 years none of the babies at risk for ROP have been
screened for the disease, because Armenian ophthalmologists have had
no experience with ROP. Consequently, an estimated 100-200 infants in
Armenia are going blind each year - the result of a treatable cause
of blindness. As a cautionary tale, the United States experienced a
similar trend in the 1940s and '50s just after the advent of NICUs
resulted in 7,000 American children with blindness.
If the EyeCare Project fails to intervene in Armenia, the resulting
epidemic of blindness will have profound social and economic
repercussions and have a devastating impact on families and children.
Sustainability of the ROP Initiative is based on three primary
factors. First, teaching Armenian physicians to diagnose and manage
babies with ROP independently. Second, to provide Armenia with the
equipment required to manage ROP including Ret-Cams and lasers.
Third, to ensure sustainability last June the AECP submitted a formal
proposal to the Armenian parliament and the Ministry of Health for
long-term funding of ROP care. The Ministry of Health responded with
a directive that regular eye screenings will be held at all Neonatal
Intensive Care Units (NICU) in Yerevan. Infants requiring surgery
will receive them locally, at the NICU premises by a laser surgeon
trained in that technique. They also have committed to paying for
the screening costs and the salaries of personnel involved in ROP
Care after the program becomes mature.
Participation in the Third International Medical Congress of Armenia
Announcement of AECP's Eye Vulnerability Index Dr. Roger Ohanesian,
founder and president of the Armenian EyeCare Project, opened
the ophthalmological session of the third International Medical
Congress. The International Medical Congress fosters relationships
and collaboration among Armenian medical professionals throughout the
world to improve the quality of medical care in Armenia and Artsakh.
Nearly 600 specialists from Europe, Asia, USA, Canada, Germany,
Australia, Russia and other countries participated in the Medical
Congress. A total of 179 scientific reports were released during 40
sessions of the Congress, July 7 through July 9.
Dr. Ohanesian's talk was titled "AECP initiatives: Eye Disease
Prevalence and the ROP Program in Armenia." Dr. Ohanesian presented
an overview of the activities of the AECP, provided an update on
the first year accomplishments of the Project's Infant Blindness
Initiative-36 infants saved from a lifetime of blindness-and announced
the development of an Eye Vulnerability Index, which provides data
on the prevalence of eye diseases in Armenia.
For the first time in the history of Independent Armenia, the
AECP gathered, processed and analyzed information from over 96,000
questionnaires, introduced the concept of an Eye Vulnerability Index,
and calculated the prevalence of eye disease for the country as a
whole and each of the regions.
According to AECP data, cataract is the most widespread eye disease
in Armenia (8.4%) followed by fundus diseases (7.9%). The AECP data
also revealed that 0.7% of population in the country is blind and
another 4.1% has low vision. Eye disease is more prevalent among
the 50+ population and eye diseases causing blindness among the 50+
population is 2.8 times higher than those under 50.
First Large Corporate Donation to the AECP from an Armenia-based
Private Company Shirak to Receive EyeCare
Announced during the Project's annual mission at a joint press
conference held on July 13, Orange Armenia, one of Armenia's largest
telecommunications companies, is the first large corporate donor to the
AECP from an Armenia-based private company. The company's foundation
has provided a significant donation to underwrite free eye care for
all residents of the Shirak Marz during August and September.
Bruno Duthoit, Orange Armenia CEO and Chairman of the Orange Armenia
Foundation board, said: "We join the EyeCare Project with great joy
because it really changes peoples' lives. People with eye disease are
at the center of Orange Foundation's attention not only in Armenia, but
also in other countries where the Foundation works. The first mission
of our company is to ease communication between people and sight is
a vital component of human communication. Today, a partnership is
beginning which will allow people of all ages to see the light again,
and a larger number of people will get medical support to prevent
such diseases in the future"
Dr. Roger Ohanesian, Founder and President of the Armenian EyeCare
Project said, "During the two last decades the Armenian Eye Care
Project has been supported primarily by the Armenian Diaspora. We
are now very pleased to have Orange Armenia as a corporate partner
in Armenia. With their major contribution the Orange Foundation
will support the EyeCare Project and the people of Shirak who will
receive eye care services. We are happy to see such a good example
of corporate philanthropy in Armenia."
The first project of the AECP-Orange partnership includes free eye
screenings for all residents of Shirak marz during August-September,
as well as treatment, including surgeries for socially vulnerable
people. Beginning August 16, groups of ophthalmologists will visit
two cities and 44 villages in the Shirak Marz, in the regions of Ani,
Artik, Akhurian, Ashotsq and Amasia. The AECP Mobile Eye Hospital will
be stationed in three regional centers: Maralik, Artik and Akhurian,
where people who are identified during the screening process as
requiring further care will receive detailed examinations and necessary
treatment, including surgeries and laser procedures.
The EyeCare Project estimates that 3,000 adults and 1,200 children
will be screened in Shirak; 250 surgeries and laser procedures will
be performed; and 1,200 eye glasses will be provided. As part of the
project, public education sessions on eyecare will be conducted in
nine schools of the Shirak region. AECP has also planned to involve
local ophthalmologists in the screenings, who will assist in finding
people who need treatment or glasses.
asbarez
Monday, August 1st, 2011
Dr. Thomas Lee examines a premie
'One Year Later-36 Infants Saved from a Lifetime of Blindness'
Since its founding it 1992, the Project has undertaken medical
missions to Armenia twice a year. The 37th Medical Mission in June
2010, launched the Project's Infant Blindness Initiative-"Prevention
of Retinopathy of Prematurity in Armenia." The purpose of the
mission was to train Armenian physicians in the care of premature
babies-specifically, to identify and treat Retinopathy of Prematurity
(ROP). All babies born prematurely are susceptible to this disease.
"One Year Later" -36 infants saved from a lifetime of blindness. The
EyeCare Project's July 2011 Conference, as part of the Medical Mission,
reported on the exciting progress, accomplishments and the future
programs of the Infant Blindness Initiative, "National Program of
Retinopathy of Prematurity." The sponsors of the conference included
the EyeCare Project, its partner in the Initiative, the Vision Center
of Los Angeles Children's Hospital, the Armenian Ministry of Health
and USAID.
More than100 Armenian ophthalmologists and neonatologists attended
the International Conference, held on July 15 -16 in Yerevan,
to learn about the results of year one and the programs planned
for 2011, and beyond. Led by Dr. Thomas Lee, Director of the
Retina Institute at the Vision Center of Los Angeles Children's
Hospital and Dr. Elisabeth Raab, Deputy Medical Director at the
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, they summarized the results
of the first year of the ROP screening and treatment program and
outlined future plans. Dr. Ruzanna Harutyunyan-AECP Fellow trained
in the United States-a pediatric ophthalmologist and coordinator of
the ROP program in Armenia also participated along with some of her
Armenian colleagues.
The most exciting news of the conference was the announcement that
over 400 Armenian infants have been screened since the program was
launched last year and 36 infants received laser surgery, at no cost
to their families, saving them from a lifetime of blindness. The
project was able to accomplish this because of the equipment donated
by extraordinarily generous benefactors over the last year. Dr.
Ohanesian was also proud to announce to the conference that the ROP
national program in Armenia has been so successful that it has the
potential to become a model for other developing countries.
Following the lecture sessions of the conference the participants
moved to the hospitals where Dr. Thomas Lee examined infants with
his Armenian colleagues. He demonstrated advanced techniques in eye
screening and treatment and all cases were analyzed. An extensive
debriefing meeting concluded the second day of the Conference.
Prevention. During the conference a special emphasis was made
on the importance of cooperation between ophthalmologists and
neonatologists in oxygen supply regulation and control as a major
factor in the prevention of ROP. The AECP plans to support the
Armenian neonatologists in two major capacity building directions:
import and installation of necessary oxygen control equipment and
advanced training of Armenian specialists.
Dr. Elisabeth Raab met with the neonatal staff at several NICUs in
Yerevan. She was quite impressed by the capacity of the Armenian
doctors who manage to provide quality care to infants with minimal
resources. She said that with more advanced equipment they will be
able to significantly improve neonatal care, which will be a major
factor in the prevention of ROP in Armenia.
What is Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP)? Retinopathy of Prematurity
(ROP) is a devastating disease that affects infants born prematurely
and leads to blindness in a matter of weeks. The enormous economic
and social burden of lifelong blindness makes it absolutely critical
to treat this disease.
Up to 60 percent of infants born at less than seven to eight months
(30 weeks) develop some form of the disease and 10 percent will
progress to the advanced form. If left untreated, the advanced form of
ROP causes rapid and irreversible blindness due to retinal scarring
and detachment. However, timely and repeated examinations of at-risk
infants and the application of laser treatments will lead to a complete
regression in the disease in up to 90 percent of these tiny patients.
Developing nations like Armenia have only recently developed neonatal
intensive care units (NICUs) to provide the necessary inpatient
medical care to infants born prematurely. Over the past 10 years,
Armenia has established seven NICUs in Yerevan and a handful in remote
rural areas. These units now treat approximately 1,600 premature
infants per year and this number is expected to grow. Because ROP is
a disease affecting premature infants, Armenia now faces a sudden and
dramatic rise in the number of children going blind. Unfortunately,
over the past 10 years none of the babies at risk for ROP have been
screened for the disease, because Armenian ophthalmologists have had
no experience with ROP. Consequently, an estimated 100-200 infants in
Armenia are going blind each year - the result of a treatable cause
of blindness. As a cautionary tale, the United States experienced a
similar trend in the 1940s and '50s just after the advent of NICUs
resulted in 7,000 American children with blindness.
If the EyeCare Project fails to intervene in Armenia, the resulting
epidemic of blindness will have profound social and economic
repercussions and have a devastating impact on families and children.
Sustainability of the ROP Initiative is based on three primary
factors. First, teaching Armenian physicians to diagnose and manage
babies with ROP independently. Second, to provide Armenia with the
equipment required to manage ROP including Ret-Cams and lasers.
Third, to ensure sustainability last June the AECP submitted a formal
proposal to the Armenian parliament and the Ministry of Health for
long-term funding of ROP care. The Ministry of Health responded with
a directive that regular eye screenings will be held at all Neonatal
Intensive Care Units (NICU) in Yerevan. Infants requiring surgery
will receive them locally, at the NICU premises by a laser surgeon
trained in that technique. They also have committed to paying for
the screening costs and the salaries of personnel involved in ROP
Care after the program becomes mature.
Participation in the Third International Medical Congress of Armenia
Announcement of AECP's Eye Vulnerability Index Dr. Roger Ohanesian,
founder and president of the Armenian EyeCare Project, opened
the ophthalmological session of the third International Medical
Congress. The International Medical Congress fosters relationships
and collaboration among Armenian medical professionals throughout the
world to improve the quality of medical care in Armenia and Artsakh.
Nearly 600 specialists from Europe, Asia, USA, Canada, Germany,
Australia, Russia and other countries participated in the Medical
Congress. A total of 179 scientific reports were released during 40
sessions of the Congress, July 7 through July 9.
Dr. Ohanesian's talk was titled "AECP initiatives: Eye Disease
Prevalence and the ROP Program in Armenia." Dr. Ohanesian presented
an overview of the activities of the AECP, provided an update on
the first year accomplishments of the Project's Infant Blindness
Initiative-36 infants saved from a lifetime of blindness-and announced
the development of an Eye Vulnerability Index, which provides data
on the prevalence of eye diseases in Armenia.
For the first time in the history of Independent Armenia, the
AECP gathered, processed and analyzed information from over 96,000
questionnaires, introduced the concept of an Eye Vulnerability Index,
and calculated the prevalence of eye disease for the country as a
whole and each of the regions.
According to AECP data, cataract is the most widespread eye disease
in Armenia (8.4%) followed by fundus diseases (7.9%). The AECP data
also revealed that 0.7% of population in the country is blind and
another 4.1% has low vision. Eye disease is more prevalent among
the 50+ population and eye diseases causing blindness among the 50+
population is 2.8 times higher than those under 50.
First Large Corporate Donation to the AECP from an Armenia-based
Private Company Shirak to Receive EyeCare
Announced during the Project's annual mission at a joint press
conference held on July 13, Orange Armenia, one of Armenia's largest
telecommunications companies, is the first large corporate donor to the
AECP from an Armenia-based private company. The company's foundation
has provided a significant donation to underwrite free eye care for
all residents of the Shirak Marz during August and September.
Bruno Duthoit, Orange Armenia CEO and Chairman of the Orange Armenia
Foundation board, said: "We join the EyeCare Project with great joy
because it really changes peoples' lives. People with eye disease are
at the center of Orange Foundation's attention not only in Armenia, but
also in other countries where the Foundation works. The first mission
of our company is to ease communication between people and sight is
a vital component of human communication. Today, a partnership is
beginning which will allow people of all ages to see the light again,
and a larger number of people will get medical support to prevent
such diseases in the future"
Dr. Roger Ohanesian, Founder and President of the Armenian EyeCare
Project said, "During the two last decades the Armenian Eye Care
Project has been supported primarily by the Armenian Diaspora. We
are now very pleased to have Orange Armenia as a corporate partner
in Armenia. With their major contribution the Orange Foundation
will support the EyeCare Project and the people of Shirak who will
receive eye care services. We are happy to see such a good example
of corporate philanthropy in Armenia."
The first project of the AECP-Orange partnership includes free eye
screenings for all residents of Shirak marz during August-September,
as well as treatment, including surgeries for socially vulnerable
people. Beginning August 16, groups of ophthalmologists will visit
two cities and 44 villages in the Shirak Marz, in the regions of Ani,
Artik, Akhurian, Ashotsq and Amasia. The AECP Mobile Eye Hospital will
be stationed in three regional centers: Maralik, Artik and Akhurian,
where people who are identified during the screening process as
requiring further care will receive detailed examinations and necessary
treatment, including surgeries and laser procedures.
The EyeCare Project estimates that 3,000 adults and 1,200 children
will be screened in Shirak; 250 surgeries and laser procedures will
be performed; and 1,200 eye glasses will be provided. As part of the
project, public education sessions on eyecare will be conducted in
nine schools of the Shirak region. AECP has also planned to involve
local ophthalmologists in the screenings, who will assist in finding
people who need treatment or glasses.