Within the framework of the “Armenia. Create Together” youth forum, Hayern Aysor’s correspondent sat down for an interview with member of the “Medicine and Health” Atelier, First Deputy Director of Vardanants Innovative Medical Center, pediatrician Narine Grigoryan.

Hayern Aysor: Mrs. Grigoryan, why was it decided to hold the practical activities at your medical center? Did you recommend it, or did you receive an offer?

Narine Grigoryan: This might sound immodest, but I must say that Vardanants Innovative Medical Center often participates in such programs. Our doors are always open for such events, and we cordially accept any innovative program or innovation in the field of medicine, especially when young Armenian students of foreign universities are involved. We welcome and do our best to support any initiative that is carried out for the benefit of the Homeland.

Hayern Aysor: How many participants will be working at the medical center?

N. G.: The atelier has been divided into three parts. One group will work with the residents of Gargar village, the other group will work at Vardanants Medical Center and will develop the information received from Gargar. For four consecutive days, the group in Gargar will examine the health problems of the locals, register them and transfer the data to the group at the medical center. The youth in Gargar are medicine researchers, and the group includes students studying in Armenia and abroad.

Hayern Aysor: How do you receive the information from Gargar? Which means of communication have you chosen?

N. G.: We have prepared a special program for them. Based on that program, they download the data and transfer them to us.

Hayern Aysor: Mrs. Grigoryan, what is the tendency of performing such a task in Gargar?

N. G.: The idea is to enhance regional medical centers in Armenia’s provinces so that people can be provided with all medical services in their locality. They will send the protected data (so that nobody can penetrate into the secret medical database) to us and, if necessary, our doctors will provide online consulting for the patient. If it becomes clear that the patient needs to undergo any checkup in, say, Vanadzor or Stepanavan, we will conduct the checkup through those medical centers. If there are cases when the checkup can only be conducted in Yerevan, we will organize it in Yerevan.

Hayern Aysor: Is it safe to consider this youth forum as not only a forum, but also a student internship?

N. G.: Of course, it is an internship that is aimed at reducing the rate of diseases in Gargar village, meaning we will be making serious efforts. For different reasons, many people haven’t seen a doctor, the situation has often become complicated, and now the disease must be revealed. The third group must also present the importance of a right lifestyle to the people in a way that is very accessible. The indicator for cardiovascular diseases in Armenia is high and is the cause of 40% of deaths. Thus, we plan on giving lectures on how to eat right and how to kick dangerous eating habits (alcoholism, smoking, irregular eating schedule). It seems as though people living in the heart of nature should eat clean food and be healthy, but that is not the case. People also need to eat literately and process the used food the right way.

Hayern Aysor: Do you believe such events lead to positive outcomes?

N. G.: It is obvious that such events will lead to positive outcomes. The youth are interested, motivated and willing. I am certain that most of them will definitely try to invest their professional knowledge in the Homeland in the future.

I ended my interview with Narine Grigoryan on this optimistic note and wished that she achieved notable results.

Karine Avagyan