Events of Armenia

ՆԲՀԱ/ նախագահ, ՀՀ ԱՆ գլխավոր մանկական ռեանիմատոլոգ, Երևանի գլխավոր նեոնատոլոգ, ԵՊԲՀ Մուրացան հիվանդանոցային համալիրի նորածնային ինտենսիվ թերապիայի բաժանմունքի վարիչ Հրանտ Կալենտերյան

Հայաստանում «Նեոնատալ ծառայությունների որակի բարելավման» ծրագրի ղեկավար Անուշ Դավթյան

Ծրագրի իրականացման խմբի հոգեբաններ Աննա Բադալյանը

ԵՊԲՀ Մուրացան հիվանդանոցային համալիրի նեոնատոլոգ Քնարիկ Նիկողոսյան

Implementation of programs aimed at improving the quality of neonatal services in Armenia

On the 7th of April during a workshop on World Health Day, Armenian Association of Neonatal Medicine together with its partners – RA Ministry of Health, US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Armenian Eye Care Project – presented the works done to reduce infant mortality in Armenia.

Within the workshop we talked to the President of the Armenian Association of Neonatal Medicine (AANM), the Chief infant resuscitator of RA MOH, the Chief Neonatologist of Yerevan, the Head of Neonatal Intensive Therapy Department in Mouratsan Hospital Complex - Hrant Kalenterian. 

-    Dear Doctor, mother-child health improvement process plays an important role in the whole world. What is the role of this issue in Armenia?

-    You are right, mother-child health improvement process is a global issue, including in Armenia. The caused problems are the same: issues connected with childcare and mortality. Our aim is to not only increase their chances of living but also improving quality of life. There are high-risk groups for the development of various chronic diseases related to the respiratory and central nervous system work. 

-    What kind of outstanding facts of development do you have after the work you have done?

-    The science develops, and the results are also getting better. Today there are countries which have already scored success. We also spare no effort and already have success.  It’s a fact that according to statistics, the number of neonatal mortality in our country dropped significantly. We have better results than expected even for international experts. 
We talked to Anoush Davtian, the Project Manager of “Improving Quality of Neonatal Services in Armenia” about the projects aimed at improving the quality of neonatal services. She introduced the Association's achievements and the use of innovative methods in this sphere.

-   What new projects does the Association have? What kind of achievements do you have?

-    Armenian Association of Neonatal services - currently, under the auspices of the United States Agency for Development – has implemented a new biennial project which started in October 2016. Key elements are the development of clinical guidelines and neonatal standards, trainings, as well as 24/7 hot-line to support all the institutions which provide neonatal services in Armenia.

-    Let’s talk on the guidelines.

-    With the help of 24 clinical guidelines the experts will demonstrate classical approach in different clinical manifestations and cross-border situations of newborns. Chief neonatologists participated in the creation of guidelines providing common advanced treatment standards for the experts, as a result.

We highlight the implementation of 24/7 hot-line which offers consulting to all the 63 medical institutions providing Neonatal services. We are located in Mouratsan Hospital Complex.

-   Do you have foreign partners?

-   In healthcare industry introducing modern approaches to our country requires sharing global achievements, connect with foreign organizations, participate in various conferences, and arrange study tours.

We talked to Knarik Nikoghosian, AANM member, Neonatologist at Mouratsan Hospital Complex about association standards. She told that within the project they identify the existing standards and create new ones.

“The standards refer to the process of recovery and check-out of premature and sick infants, prescribed medication, standards related to the quality of staff, etc. The aim is to enhance the quality of newborn care, and to clarify doctor duties.

We received comments on the quality improvements of neonatal services from the psychologists of the project implementation group Lilit Baghdasarian and Anna Badalian.

“Our work is organized directly in medical institutions. We provide psychological support to mothers who have just given birth. Psychological problems arise especially within premature births. The years of experience have shown that psychological support is especially needed in neonatal medicine departments. We use a number of psychological methods during the work: group works, most often - individual-psychological approach. Psychologist’s work prevents the emergence of postpartum depression with mothers”, says Lilit Baghdasarian.

Anna Badalian mentions that during family psychotherapy they also work with fathers, “The need to work with fathers mostly occurs when a premature baby is born in the family. We work in 3 major medical centers: Mouratsan and SlavMed medical centers, and Center of Maternal and Child Health Protection.