Dental Care for 235 orphans in Armenia

 June, 2017

A SECOND SOAR DENTAL CLINIC HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN TSAGHGADZOR AND IS IN FULL OPERATION. SOAR ASSUMES ALL ESSENTIAL CARE FOR THE DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN, THE ENTIRE GYUMRI COMMUNITY AND THE 815 TSAGHGADZOR SUMMER CAMP CHILDREN!

Submitted by Kohar Mardirossian Pelter and George S. Yacoubian, Jr.

"SOAR Dental Clinic" in Gyumri which has operated free of charge for all of the disadvantaged children in the city and the neighboring regions of Spitak,  since 2016 November, continues its essential presence and provides comprehensive dental care for the children and the entire community of the region.

The primary beneficiaries of the clinic continue to be the disadvantaged children from child care and protection institutions of the Gyumri, including : Our Lady Of Armenia Convent, Children Home of Gyumri, Nansen Boarding school, Thrchoonian Home, Gyumri Social Childcare Center, and Boarding School N 1. SOAR Clinic is open also for the other vulnerable children who come from poor and needy families of the community. During the reporting period from March 2017 to May 2017, 104 beneficiaries from Child Care Institutions (Orphanages, Day Care Center, boarding facilities) and children from needy families who are on government’s “Paros” or poverty list were provided with dental care in SOAR Dental clinic at no cost. Almost all children have visited twice for service. 25 children have been provided with Vitamins and Ca. Examples of families and children being in such desperation and poverty. Arpine has a large family. She has 5 minor children who lack health care and dental care. She is unemployed, takes care of the children and her husband has a seasonal job. One of her sons Arsen has health issues, suffers from renal insuffiencySusanna and Shushan are at the 2^rd grade. They are beneficiaries of Gyumri Child Care Center. The youngest child, Alex is 1year and 9 months old. Arpine’s children are receiving permanent service from SOAR Dental clinic and they are very happy and grateful for a very kinds and qualified attitude of the doctor and nurse. Arpine talking about her children said “We cannot afford taking our children to private dental care and it is unbelievable for us to have such a good and qualified service by SOAR where my kids can come and have dental service free of charge”.

Malnourishment, poor social conditions, genetic factors affecting child development  and stress  can cause issues with the development of teeth and bone, all of which is prevalent in this region.  Each child may have  multiple dental and periodontal issues and diseases. 

The dental clinic is providing consultations, fillings, removal of tarter, treatment of cavitiesthrough the infiltration method, as well as the removal and treatment with orthodontics. Dentists offer children the chance to have all the dental treatment they need – including cleanings, x-rays and filling (for cavities). Provision of vitamins and supplements necessary for gum and enamel health.

Taking into consideration that State-supported dental service is no longer free of charge for kids, the role of SOAR dental clinic in the community is of the utmost importance in providing primary care and in keeping the children’s teeth healthy. It is also essential in the prevention and/ or treatment of early onset tooth decay, tooth loss, and subsequent gum and oral diseases.

During summer months (July –August) 2 dentists will be coming to Armenia within SOAR Volunteering program for volunteering in dental suite of summer camp located in Tsaghkadzor. One student who is doing internship in dentistry will help kids with trainings on oral hygiene. She will be bringing toothbrushes, toothpastes and oral hygiene supplies for the kids in the camp.

“SOAR Dental Care Program" continues to provide dental check up and care at Tsaghgadzor summer camp run by the Armenian Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Each year, from June till September, hundreds of (last year was over 815) orphans, are brought to the camp. These are needy, at-risk, war-affected children from disadvantaged families from remote villages of Armenia, the Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh and Javakhk (Southern Georgia), who are there to receive adequate nutrition, hygiene, medicine and medical exams (including vaccinations), summer recreational activities, rest and especially dental care. Due to cooperation with Fresno Medical Mission in October 2017 we are expecting 2 dentists from USA who will come to volunteer in SOAR Dental clinic in Gyumri for full time and travelling to the other facilities for kids’ check- ups.

With no safety net for the children of Gyumri and Tsaghagdzor from the state and with limited number of dental clinics which unfortunately provide substandard care and are rarely available, there is no hope for the health of the young disadvantaged. . This makes the role of "SOAR Dental Care Program" in Gyumri essential for the most disadvantaged children and families in the community! They get 100% qualified dental service absolutely free of charge! Naturally, the need for such service is growing in the community.

WE NEED YOUR HELP! You can help make a difference and change the course of this endemic crisis. We need to fund the operational cost, supplies, and salaries of the dentists and technicians who will work in Gyumri's dental clinic.

The funds will be used to obtain HQ teeth files, working equipment, teeth filling materials, disinfection solvents,  root canals plumbing materials , fluorine-containing materials for regular care,  prophylactic  materials, and other administrative expenses (for example utility costs, as winters are very cold in that district and the clinic needs proper heating). No amount is too little to make a contribution to the project!!! We appreciate and welcome your support in any amount you are able to contribute. We are working towards the full operation of the clinic as well as the opening of a new clinic.

We are grateful for your continued support to alleviate the pain, suffering, and poor dental health of these children. Thank you all for providing this unparalleled gift for the orphaned children and Armenia’s destitute. Please donate through GlobalGiving’s Dental Care for Orphans campaign.

Thank you!