The European Union and WHO donated digital X-ray equipment to Goris Medical Center

The European Union and WHO today donated X-ray equipment to the Goris Medical Center for use in their radiology room. The donation is part of a larger assistance package, provided by the EU to help boost COVID-19 response in the country.

6 other hospitals in the capital Yerevan and regions have received X-ray equipment with the funding from the European Union. The new X-ray units facilitate monitoring of a patient’s progress and improve clinical decision-making. They are invaluable to hospitals which see hundreds of COVID-19 patients daily. While traditional film X-rays continue to be effective in establishing a diagnosis, digital X-rays allow for images to be manipulated, providing better quality and definition. This allows for precise and fast diagnostics in hospitals. 

Andrea Wiktorin, the Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, Lena Nanushyan, the Deputy Minister of Health and Henrik Khachatryan, the WHO Officer in Charge were at Goris Medical Center to hand over the X-ray equipment.

“Support to the healthcare in the regions is essential. The EU stands by Armenia to continue the fight against the virus, and improve the life of Armenian citizens,” said the Ambassador of the European Union to Armenia, Andrea Wiktorin. 

“I would like to thank our partners for their continued and invaluable support in the fight against COVID-19 for the past two years. Within the framework of the ‘Solidarity for Health’ initiative- with the EU funding and support of the WHO, an X-ray device has been donated to Goris Medical Center, which will enable the necessary examinations with a modern device, providing better medical care to our compatriots," mentioned Lena Nanushyan, Deputy Minister of Health.

The Goris Medical Center has been among the recipient hospitals, which have received equipment from WHO through the ‘Solidarity for Health Initiative,’ funded by the European Union. The medical center has been supplied with 1 electrocardiogram machine and 3 oxygen concentrators, which helped hundreds of patients recover from severe illness, caused by COVID-19.

The guests also visited the ''Vaccination is Care'' campaign at Goris policlinics and spoke with health workers to hear about their first-hand experience and challenges they face with vaccine deployment. The "Vaccination is care” campaign, implemented within the European Union/WHO action to support deployment of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in Armenia and in close cooperation of Ministry of Health, is aimed at making the Covid-19 vaccination more accessible for people over 65 living in the marzes of Armenia through mobile vaccination groups, visiting polyclinics, outpatient clinics and community centers nearer to their residence. In addition to COVID-19 vaccination, the vulnerable elderly population have the opportunity to access other essential health services, including screening for non-communicable diseases such as anemia and diabetes.

“WHO has been committed to assist the country with strengthening the resilience of health system in Armenia with focus to regions through provision of training opportunities to local medical staff, supplying required medical essential supplies and equipment, which will make medical services accessible. The ‘Vaccination is Care’ campaign enables population in Syunik marz to get COVID-19 vaccines right in their medical centers without travelling.” mentioned Henrik Khachatryan, WHO Armenia, Officer in Charge.