Armenia

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By Arax Eleyjian

On September 21, 1991 the Republic of Armenia became free from the Soviet Union. A country with its rich history celebrates 19 years of independence. “The president Serge  Sarkisian as well as the Armenian Republic’s leadership along with thousands of citizens visited the military pantheon Yerablur and laid flowers and wreaths at the memorials of Artsakh’s heroes” (http://www.yerevanreport.com/40331/republic-armenia-celebrated-independence-day/). During these times of commemoration many people of Armenia celebrate their freedom by joining together at the Republic Square; which is located in the city of Yerevan. At the square people rejoice by having musical guests and a night of beautiful fireworks.

The President of Armenia Serzh Sarkisian spoke to his people of how Armenia has come a long way from becoming the country that it is today. Based on the country’s growth Serzh Sarkisian states that “Today, we are on the road toward the economic recovery and now our task is to put economic growth on a solid foundation, with the assessment of the deficiencies in the world economic model that produced the crises” (http://asbarez.com/85603/armenian-president-serzh-sarkisian-tuesday-congratulated-the-armenian-people-on-the-19th-anniversary-of-armenia%e2%80%99s-independence-from-the-soviet-nion-news-am-reported/).

Many of the world leaders today congratulate Armenia for their independence and their moving developments to better their future. U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, both shared their thoughts by sending their messages to Armenia on the growth of friendship and appreciation of Armenian Americans that have “made many contributions to the United States over the years, deepening the ties of friendship and affection between our countries” H.Clinton (http://www.armenianweekly.com/2010/09/21/clinton-statement-on-armenia-independence-day/ ).

As Armenians commemorate their independence, another organization has also been celebrating their 100th Anniversary. As part of Real Medicine Foundation’s motto of “friends helping friends”, RMF has partnered with Armenian Relief Society (ARS) who has been the helping hand of the projects in Shinuhayr and its other surrounding six villages in Armenia for the past 100 years.

ARS has experienced phenomenal growth since its inception in the year 1910 in New York City. At first ARS started as part of the International Red Cross until it became strong enough to grow its own wings and become an organization of its own. “Today, with entities in 26 countries and a membership of around 15,000, the ARS is an independent, non-sectarian philanthropic society serving the humanitarian and cultural needs of the Armenian people” (http://ars1910.org/?page_id=3). The ARS branches from all over the world have been celebrating their big accomplishments throughout the year. The celebrations in Armenia will take place October 11th through the 15th. Many galas held place within the United States chapters; remembering the past and the great services this organization has built. Many of the guests that have attended the ARS gatherings have been “benefactors, organizational representative, church leaders, and U.N. representative” (http://ars1910.org/?p=1054).

Real Medicine Foundation is thankful for their friendship with ARS and would like to congratulate them on 100 years of humanitarian services throughout the world. RMF also congratulates Armenia for 19 years of freedom and independence, and looks forward to continue to deepen their connection to help bring a brighter future for the people of Shinuhayr, Armenia.

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For more information about our initiative in Armenia please visit our website.

To contribute to this or any of our other efforts, please click the Donate button below or through our website at realmedicinefoundation.org.

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Much to the delight of big hearted beer geeks across Los Angeles, June 27th was Dionicess VI. A generous pairing event featuring beers from the Firestone Brewing Company and sausages and fries from Tony’s Darts Away, with all proceeds supporting the Real Medicine Foundation in Armenia.

Led by Gev Kazanchyan, writer, professor, beer and wine philanthropist, and co-hosted by Firestone Walker representative and Certified Cicerone™ Jace Milstead and certified beer judge, food author and chef Randy Clemens, Dionicess VI was the most successful event in the Dionicess series to date.

Thanks to donated food from Tony’s Darts Away, 7 donated beers from Firestone Walker (including Parabola and Unfiltered 100% Barrel Aged, Double Barrel Ale on cask), a sold out event, and ongoing donations both at the event and after (Firestone beer was served until closing for continual donations), the event topped the charts raising close to $1600 for Real Medicine Foundation’s healthcare program in Shinuhayr.

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The Pairings

Opening with homemade ‘chili-limon’ seasoned potato chips, the event was off with a spark followed by six paired courses.

1) A celebration in citrus: Firestone Walker Solace served with sun-dried tomato and mozzarella chicken sausage topped with orange zest.

2) Firestone Walker Humboldt Brown, a controversial beer formerly known as “Hemp Ale,” served with ”Poutine” fries, also topped with toasted hemp seeds.

3) A DBA take over: Firestone Walker Unfiltered Double Barrel Ale (DBA) with an apple sage chicken sausage corn-dog, made with DBA beer batter and served with DBA mustard and jalapeno ketchup.

4) A match up of personal favorites (Walker’s and Tony’s head chef Pyntch): Firestone Walker Walker’s Reserve Robust Porter paired with ”Pyntch’s Mad Sweet” sweet potato fries topped with blue cheese.

5) Firestone Walker Union Jack India Pale Ale, a hopps forward 3 time gold metal winner, paired with natural pork Andouille sausage and home-made jalapeno mashed potatoes.

6) The final pairing was a rare treat, Firestone Walker Parabola served with Randy Clemens’ own “beeramisu,” a tiramisu blend of espresso and beer.

Thanks

By far, this even set a new standard for Dionicess to come, but it would not have been possible without the help of everyone who came together to make it happen. Thank you to everyone who attended the event and to those of you who also added to the donation pitcher in the back.

Thank you to Tony of Tony’s Darts Away for donating food and covering staff cost and to Paige Reilly, dedicated General Manager, who worked the event for free. Thank to to the wonderful and hard working kitchen staff, Shawn, Liz, and head chef Pyntch who prepared each course at lightning speed to make sure that all six courses reached everyone on time.

Thank you to the helping hands of Dave Watrous, Matt Olesh, and Sarah Kissell who helped make sure that everyone was comfortable and taken care of.

Thank you to Dr. Martina Fuchs and Nairy Ghazourian for speaking on behalf of Real Medicine and representing the cause.

And of course, another thank you to  Jace Milstead, Randy Clemens, and the unstoppable Gev Kazanchyan for all the hard work putting everything together.

Read more about the event:

Read about RMF Armenia

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During the month of April, RMF and ARS staff performed assessments in Shinuhayr’s surrounding villages, all of them with little access to health care, and investigated the shortfalls of medicines in the region. Throughout the month, medicines were purchased and distributed to 58 beneficiaries in selected villages, 16 of them children. Close to 22% received some type of antibiotic; 25% received heart/diabetic medications and the rest ranged from analgesics to anti-depressants, vitamins, antipyretics and others.

In addition to the medical services it provides, the Shinuhyr ambulatory is also intended for delivery of counseling services, as well as informational support of vulnerable groups. The ambulatory staff has a specific route, visiting the villages of Khot, Halidzor, Tatev, Sevarants, Tandzatap and Harjis, and providing outreach services and distributing medicines to the vulnerable population in the villages. The staff is very excited and is looking forward to using the RMF ambulance to further facilitate and enhance the outreach component of the clinic’s services.

Throughout the month of April, the Ministry of Health RoA initiated several special training seminars for medical personnel working in polyclinics in the scope of “Family Doctor Project”. By the end of April, family and internal medicine doctors and nurses were educated and trained via lectures and presentations. The trainee doctors reported that they reaped great benefits from the seminars and that they have a wealth of stories to tell on how their newly acquired skills and knowledge helped while dealing with real-life problems in the field.

During the month of March, the list of drugs to be purchased was completed. All necessary medications were procured, and distributed among the beneficiaries. Most of the patients that had applied during this period of time received the medical support. The ARS Yerevan office purchased all necessary medications through the Tashir Farm Company. However, due to the trainings and organized seminars, doctors spent less time in the clinic and therefore, not all medicines were distributed. Undistributed medications have been reallocated for the next month.

A total of 58 patients received free medications for their specified disease states

N Village Distribution of Medicines Population ChildrenAge 0-7 School childrenAge 8-17 Disabled persons Single mothers Socially vulnerable families
1 Shinuhayr 20 2895 336 541 119 18 157
2 Khot 4 973 130 135 27 2 32
3 Halidzor 5 525 44 103 32 2 22
4 Tatev 8 970 33 108 21 3 40
5 Sevarants 4 332 17 47 4 5 48
6 Tandzatap 0 100 9 12 5 10 12
7 Harjis 17 1014 111 158 18 7 36
TOTAL 58 6809 680 1104 226 47 347

Clinical Staff as well as visited families and patients expressed their heartfelt gratitude to RMF for the assistance they are receiving with their healthcare needs, medicines and, especially, transportation. Many of these families do not apply to receive health care and medicines because of lack of financial means. More data will follow after the procurement of our new ambulance (next reporting period).

Throughout the first quarter (January – March 2010), a total of 62 patients from Shinuhayr and surrounding villages were treated in the clinic for various conditions. The most prevalent health conditions were gastrointestinal diseases and gastritis (37%), followed by respiratory tract infections (24.1%), heart disease (16%), and joint pains (12.9%).

The highest prevalence of disease was among children (31%) and those over 50 years of age at 29%. The overall ratio of male vs. female patients was 54.8% vs. 45.2%.

Morbidity Data

Date
Range
Jan. – March 2010
Clinic Shinuhyar Clinic
January February March Totals Totals
Diagnosis M F M F M F M F Totals
Viral
Fever
2 1 1 1 1 1 4 3 7
Respiratory
Tract Infection
1 2 1 1 2 1 4 4 8
Cough
and Cold
1 1 2 1 1 1 4 3 7
Joint
Pains
1 2 1 1 1 2 3 5 8
Gastrointestinal
Disease
3 2 1 2 3 2 7 6 13
Gastritis 1 1 1 1 3 2 5 4 9
Heart
Disease
2 1 3 1 2 1 7 3 10
Total 11 10 10 8 13 10 34 28 62
January February March Totals Totals
By Village M F M F M F M F Totals
Shinuhyar 2 1 1 1 3 2 6 4 10
Xot 1 2 2 1 2 1 5 4 9
Haledzor 2 1 1 1 1 1 4 3 7
Tatev 1 2 1 2 3 2 5 6 11
Severance 1 1 2 1 1 2 4 4 8
Tanzentap 1 2 1 1 1 1 3 4 7
Harghis 3 1 2 1 2 1 7 3 10
Total 11 10 10 8 13 10 34 28 62
January February March Totals Totals
By Age M F M F M F M F Totals
0 -
05 YEARS
4 3 2 4 3 3 9 10 19
06 -
15 YEARS
1 1 2 1 2 3 5 5 10
16 -
24 YEARS
2 1 1 1 3 1 6 3 9
25 -
49 YEARS
1 1 2 1 0 1 3 3 6
50 ++++++ 3 4 3 1 5 2 11 7 18
Total 11 10 10 8 13 10 34 28 62
January February March Totals M Totals F
% Male
to Female
52.4% 47.6% 55.6% 44.4% 56.5% 43.5% 54.8% 45.2%
Pediatric, adult and elderly patients who received care in April

Find out more about RMF Armenia

Support RMF Armenia at Dionicess VI, June 27th 2010

Dionicess VI by mattatouille.

Dear Friends in LA,

If you have ever wanted a chance to meet the Real Medicine team and learn more about the cause, June 27th provides the perfect opportunity to support our work and find out more about how you can get involved all over a few casual beers, sausages, and dart games.

“On June 27th, Tony’s Darts Away will be the center of LA’s Beer Geekdom when Beer Maven Gev Kazanchyan hosts the sixth iteration of Dionicess, a beer and food night that will feature some superb beers from Firestone Walker Brewing Company and grilled sausageswww.mattatouille.com

The event is $35 per person (food and drink) and requires pre-registration to attend. Tickets are on sale now but they are going fast. All proceeds from the event will help to provide primary healthcare to the people of Shinuhayr, Armenia, through the work of the Real Medicine Foundation.

Purchase tickets via ItsMySeat

RMF: Armenia:

Accessibility to free, quality health services for children and mothers in rural Armenia is extremely limited. It is estimated that 42.9% of the country still live below the poverty line, which has led to a drop in immunization by 42% in 2006.

Working closely with our new program partner, The Armenia Relief Society (ARS), Real Medicine Foundation has initiated support of the Shinuhayr Primary Healthcare Clinic to provide the clinic with critical medicine inventories and medical supplies. The Shinuhayr Primary Healthcare Clinic is the only clinic available in the region servicing its surrounding six villages with a population of over 6.500. Read more


April 1, 2010 | Shirley Jahad | KPCC

Poverty in Armenia has been on the rise in recent years. A report from the World Bank last year says 28 percent of the people in Armenia live below the poverty level. Southland photographer Sara Anjargolian spent several weeks on the outskirts of the capital city Yerevan documenting the lives of those families living in the shadows and rarely seen. Her photos are compiled in her new book, “How We Live: Life on the Margins in Armenia.” The images are on display at Casitas Studios in Atwater Village. (Audio: KPCC’s Shirley Jahad spoke with Anjargolian there about the stories of families in poverty in Armenia.)

One of the photos is of a man perched on a field of garbage. This is his place of work. He gets up at 6 o’clock each morning and stays out until 5 in the afternoon searching the hilly fields of trash for pieces of plastic or metal to sell for money to feed his family.

Another photo shows how a family of 10 lives in a 400-square-foot apartment, given to the father for his military service.

Anjargolian says some 400,000 Armenians live in the Southland. Many have strong ties to Armenia. Many make donations to charities back in their homeland. Some have bought houses or condos in Yerevan where tree-lined streets and European cafes are springing up.

But few have seen or heard about these families in poverty. The exhibit of 5×7 foot photos is meant to bring the viewer face-to-face with situation. The display is up until April 18 at Casitas Studios – 3229 Casitas Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90039. Gallery hours Friday April 2: 7-10pm; Saturday April 10: 6-10pm; Sunday April 18: 6-9pm. Schools and community groups may email info@howwelive.org to make tour arrangements.

Click here to view this article on the scpr.org site

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“Are these photographs going to make a difference in our lives?” asked Haykush Karapetyan, 50, when I photographed her this past July in Armenia. I met fifteen families like Haykush’s while documenting, on behalf of the Tufenkian Foundation, families living in extreme poverty. I could have met hundreds of thousands more.

Today, devastating numbers of people living along society’s margins in Armenia regularly live off garbage dumps, children battle malnutrition, alcoholism and domestic violence are commonplace, and families sleep in barns and tin shacks. According to the World Bank, this is how at least one in four people in Armenia lives.

On March 26 and March 27, please join me, curator Narineh Mirzaeian, and the Tufenkian Foundation for HOW WE LIVE, a special exhibition and book release which tells the story of families living on the margins in Armenia.

The exhibition, produced by a talented team of professionals in collaboration with the Tufenkian Foundation, features a warehouse space transformed into a multi-sensory experience with large-scale images, videos, vignettes, and a book of photography.

To learn more and to purchase tickets visit www.HowWeLive.org

For a preview of selected photography visit www.SaraAnjargolian.com

Ticket and book sales benefit Tufenkian Foundation Poverty Relief in Armenia – to learn more visit www.TufenkianFoundation.com


Dates:

Friday, March 26 – Donor Preview Reception

Saturday, March 27 – Opening

Times for both evenings:

7pm – Exhibit Viewing

9pm – Presentation & Screening of Documentary Short

Location:

Casitas Studios

3229 Casitas Ave.

Los Angeles, CA 90039

Update: Journey to Armenia in the Media

Dear RMF Team and Friends,

These are the final days leading up to our Photography Event Journey to Armenia on June 12, 2009 Meet the Fockers movie download benefiting our new project in Armenia:

So far we have been receiveing a great response from the community: 12 photographs have already been sold, and we keep getting confirmations from dignitaries and stakeholders planning to attend.

Pootie Tang release

In the past few weeks we have also received some notable media attention:

Burbank Leader

Glendale News Press

Monster a-Go Go full movie Asbarez

We are committed to making sure that the people of Shinuhayr will have a safe clinic and access to medical care, but we still need your help. Our event goal is to raise enough funding to repair the roof  before the oncoming, snow covered, wet winter months cause any further damage to the site or harm to those who come for care. Please keep spreading the word so we will be able to reach this first goal and keep the clinic, and its patients, safe through the harsh months ahead.

Tickets are $25.00 for general admission and $75.00 for the private champagne reception with the artists, celebrities and dignitaries of the evening.

For tickets or to pre-purchase photographs (12 photos are already sold), please visit: http://www.itsmyseat.com/RMF.html

Fists of Iron release

Sponsorship opportunities are also available; please find information attached. For more information please contact, Nairy Ghazourian, our Country Director, Armenia (Nairy@realmedicinefoundation.org Logan’s Run divx Perfect Hideout psp ).

The Collector dvd

Journey to Armenia, Friday June 12th,
A&I Photography Gallery
933 N Highland Ave
Los Angeles CA 90038

download Off Limits dvd

My Little Eye dvdrip

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