GORIS - TUESDAY, 22 JANUARY 2013

While passing through the Syunik province in the context of the election campaign*, the outgoing President of the Republic Serge Sarkissian visited Goris on the January 22nd. The objective was to officially inaugurate the Franco-Armenian Cardiovascular Center achieved by the AFHA in collaboration with the French-Armenian Fund (FAF).

The president had already made the trip to Goris on the16th of October in 2010 to visit the building upon completion of the work by the FAF. This time he was able to discover an operational FACC, since the AFHA has completed the establishment of technical facilities and the stuff recruitment.

The ceremony was attended by many Armenian and French personalities, including Derenik Doumanian, Minister of Health, Hranush Hakobyan, Minister of Diaspora, Souren Khatchadourian, governor of the Syunik province, Ara Doluntz, vice-governor, Nelson Voskanian, mayor of Goris, Dr Rita Bazikian, President of the AFHA in Armenia, Dr. Avédis Matikian (representing Dr. Telma Hératchian, the President of the AFHA) and Mr. Levon Djolakian, president of the Armenian Fund in South France.

Created at the request of Dr. Hrair Hovaguimia – the American pioneer of modern cardiac surgery in Armenia working at Nork Marash hospital in Yerevan – that structure derived from the cardiovascular centre of Nork Marash will enable to treat a population living in an area difficult to reach from the capital. Goris is actually more than four hours drive away from Yerevan, it is covered under snow for several months and the existing roads are through the mountains. This is why the population until now has been completely devoided of care for cardiovascular diseases.

Patrice Bastiera

* Armenians participated in elections of a new head of state on the February 18th, 2013.