COAF Conducts Community Health Education Classes in the Model Cluster

Armavir District, Republic of Armenia, November 22, 2006 — As part of its Community Health Education Program (CHEP), the Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) recently completed a series of educational classes in the communities that constitute the Model Cluster. The Program included ten-day training in first aid, healthy lifestyle, child healthcare, hygiene and vaccination, prenatal care, prevention of cervical and breast cancer, and management and prevention of common diseases. These classes were targeted for teachers and community volunteers. Additionally, six-day training was conducted especially for educating the youth. Participants are expected to form active groups and, in turn, conduct peer training in schools and community youth clubs.

COAF’s major partner in the implementation of CHEP was FIDEC (Fighting Infectious Diseases in Emerging Countries), a US-based non-profit organization operating in Latin America and Armenia. In collaboration with FIDEC, COAF completed Microbac training to raise awareness of nurses and teachers of issues related to hygiene and vaccination.

Subsequently, with the assistance of trained health staff and COAF support, a number of events were organized for pre-school and elementary school children, during which children became better-informed on these topics through visual aids and various illustrative techniques. The Program also included distribution of colorful books, which had been translated into Armenian and published for wider dissemination by FIDEC. On events day, the children had prepared short performances on these topics and were awarded prizes for their participation.

Parallel to CHEP, a series of anti-smoking campaigns were launched in Karakert and Argina, with the other four villages to follow in the coming weeks. Presentations and performances by the schoolchildren were devoted to discouraging both children and parents from smoking, provided statistical data on the harms of smoking and examples of the health problems from active and passive smoking.

FIDEC (Fighting Infectious Diseases in Emerging Countries) is a US-based non-profit organization that supports health care programs and aims at fighting infectious diseases. Its members include physicians, scientists and other health care professionals. FIDEC’s focus is on improving the health of people in emerging countries by preventing and reducing the adverse impact of infectious diseases through educational campaigns for communities and for institutions.

 

CONTACTS: Sunny Uberoi, (212) 994-8206; or e-mail info@coafkids.org