COAF Participates in Second International Medical Congress of Armenia and Sponsors Mother and Child Health Plenary Session

Yerevan, Republic of Armenia, June 6, 2007 — The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF) will participate in the Second International Medical Congress of Armenia, June 28-30, 2007, Armenia Marriott Hotel, Yerevan.  The COAF Country Director will make a presentation on June 30^th on COAF’s unique Formula to Eliminate Global Poverty.  Encouraged by the overall theme of the Congress and the anticipated collaboration between Armenia and Diaspora medical professionals, COAF is sponsoring the Mother and Child Health Plenary Session of the Congress.

In the words of the organizers, “the aim of the Congress is to discuss current healthcare issues and projects in Armenia and abroad, as well as foster collaboration and promote experience sharing among Armenian healthcare professionals and their respective colleagues from more than 16 countries all over the world.”  The organizers have reported that to this date, there are 300 registered attendees.

The first two days of the Congress are dedicated to presentations of papers on a variety of health topics.  Armenian and foreign scholars and renowned physicians will discuss issues, findings, and discoveries in neurology and mental health, mother and child health, public health/tobacco control, nursing, dentistry, oncology, primary health care, and pharmacology.  The third day of the Congress is dedicated to Armenia-Diaspora projects and various strategies for future cooperation.

Speaking on the third day of the Congress, Dr. Arpie G. Balian, COAF Armenia Country Director, will make a presentation on COAF’s Participatory Integrated Rural Development Program in the Model Cluster of six villages, Armavir District.  Dr. Balian will emphasize the uniqueness of COAF’s design in rural development, while reviewing the components of its model and highlighting the achievements to date.  On this day, other presenters will include representatives of Mission East, Armenian Eye Care Project, Armenian Bone Marrow Registry, Karageozian Foundation, and Millennium Armenian Children’s Vaccine Fund.  The participants in the Congress will also have the opportunity to tour COAF’s Model Cluster and witness the work-in-progress.

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