No nurse and no doctor in Torfavan community
Boys of Smbat\'s age are typically full of energy and mischief, but until Smbat was diagnosed with inflamed tonsils and underwent surgery with the help of World Vision Armenia, he was thin, had problems with his speech and just couldn’t keep up with other children.
“Smbat had troubled sleep and had no appetite. I was worried about his health and took him to regional policlinics several times. But each time we were unable to see a doctor for different reasons; it was lunch time and my son was unable to wait and another time the doctor was visiting a sick child. When you live far it is very hard to arrange a meeting with a doctor”, shares Smbat’s mother, Gohar Mirzoyan, 31.
Often women deliver at home because they are afraid they won’t reach the hospital in time The doors of the recently renovated health post are sadly always closed and there is no nurse and no doctor in Torfavan community in Gegharkunik Region, central-eastern Armenia.
When Smbat felt ill, Gohar and her mother-in-law Zinaida Sargsyan, 60, would try to ease the discomfort using home-made medicine.
“We have to reach the regional centre Vardenis not only to visit the doctor but also to buy basic medicines because there is no pharmacy in Torfavan or nearby villages”, explains Zinaida.
When asked what villagers do when they have urgent medical needs, Smbat’s father Levon Sargsyan, 39 answers, “There are a few farmers in the village who have vehicles. They never refuse to take villagers to a doctor. Often women deliver at home because they are afraid they won’t reach the hospital in time. Our roads are so bad. In winter the situation is even worse; it snows so heavily that visiting a doctor is becoming an even harder task”.
There are no permanent jobs in Torfavan and residents rely on seasonal migration. When the men of the village migrate to Russia or Ukraine to earn money, women and children stay home alone and struggle with a range of duties.
Levon offers his services to these families, keen to do any job in order to earn an income to support his own family. For one of his neighbours Levon cuts peat (lignite coal/brown coal) in the mine, which is a very laborious and difficult job and for another family he chops wood or mows grass.
“This year will be particularly challenging for all of us. Those who left for Russia returned empty-handed because of the Global Economic Crisis. Since men are with their families my services are not in need anymore and I cannot count even on odd jobs”, explains Levon. “I don’t know how we will pay for food and utilities this winter”, he continues.
Zinaida explains that they own a small 0.1 ha of land on which they grow potatoes, carrot, and cabbage. Even if they are lucky enough to have a good harvest and are able to sell one tonne of potatoes, it means they cultivate the land for six months to receive some 25,000 AMD (US$65) for the whole year.
The only stable income the family receives is 20,000 AMD (US$52) monthly allowance for the children and 25,000 AMD that Levon’s father earns as a watchman in the nearby village hen-house. Combined, these meagre amounts cannot meet the daily needs of the children, let alone costs associated with surgery.
For children like Smbat, health check-ups provided by World Vision Armenia’s Medical Outreach Teams are often life-changing.
“The diagnosis was inflamed tonsils. Doctors said the surgery was a must. They explained that the illness could have an impact on Smbat’s heart”, remembers Gohar.
World Vision provided support not only for the surgery but also for the post-surgical period.
“I was not able to play with my sister Zina, I was very weak. Now I climb trees, I play outside, I sleep well. This year I went to school and haven’t missed any of my classes”, shares Smbat who now resembles a different boy.
“World Vision identified 135 children with similar problems. We took them to the hospital, covered all the expenses related to the surgery and helped their parents during the recovery period”, says Zorik Karapetyan, World Vision Armenia Vardenis Area Development Programme Specialist.
Winter in Gegharkunik starts early and snow can fall as early as October. Temperatures can plummet 35˚C below zero and it is a constant challenge to keep houses and schools at a comfortable temperature.
I climb trees, I play outside, I sleep well. This year I went to school and haven’t missed any of my classes “We heat the houses with peat and with tree branches. To save money six of us sleep together in one room. Levon cuts the peat himself but we still pay some 45,000 AMD (US$116.00) for the space in the mine and renting a truck to transport the peat”, explains Gohar.
“I hate winters. The smoke of the peat spreads everywhere. It smells awful but still does not heat the house well”, says Smbat’s sister Zina, 9.
Even though a gas-main passes nearby, families in Torfavan will not enjoy gas heating in their houses in coming years. The community is small and poor and the company that owns the gas supply is not concerned with installing gas pipelines in the village. The calculations show that each family should spend US$1,000 to have gas in the village.
“My parents put some wood aside and bring it to school to heat the classrooms when it becomes very cold”, says Zina.
“All the parents help the school to heat the classrooms. After all, it is for the health of our children”, says Gohar.
-Ends-
“Smbat had troubled sleep and had no appetite. I was worried about his health and took him to regional policlinics several times. But each time we were unable to see a doctor for different reasons; it was lunch time and my son was unable to wait and another time the doctor was visiting a sick child. When you live far it is very hard to arrange a meeting with a doctor”, shares Smbat’s mother, Gohar Mirzoyan, 31.
Often women deliver at home because they are afraid they won’t reach the hospital in time The doors of the recently renovated health post are sadly always closed and there is no nurse and no doctor in Torfavan community in Gegharkunik Region, central-eastern Armenia.
When Smbat felt ill, Gohar and her mother-in-law Zinaida Sargsyan, 60, would try to ease the discomfort using home-made medicine.
“We have to reach the regional centre Vardenis not only to visit the doctor but also to buy basic medicines because there is no pharmacy in Torfavan or nearby villages”, explains Zinaida.
When asked what villagers do when they have urgent medical needs, Smbat’s father Levon Sargsyan, 39 answers, “There are a few farmers in the village who have vehicles. They never refuse to take villagers to a doctor. Often women deliver at home because they are afraid they won’t reach the hospital in time. Our roads are so bad. In winter the situation is even worse; it snows so heavily that visiting a doctor is becoming an even harder task”.
There are no permanent jobs in Torfavan and residents rely on seasonal migration. When the men of the village migrate to Russia or Ukraine to earn money, women and children stay home alone and struggle with a range of duties.
Levon offers his services to these families, keen to do any job in order to earn an income to support his own family. For one of his neighbours Levon cuts peat (lignite coal/brown coal) in the mine, which is a very laborious and difficult job and for another family he chops wood or mows grass.
“This year will be particularly challenging for all of us. Those who left for Russia returned empty-handed because of the Global Economic Crisis. Since men are with their families my services are not in need anymore and I cannot count even on odd jobs”, explains Levon. “I don’t know how we will pay for food and utilities this winter”, he continues.
Zinaida explains that they own a small 0.1 ha of land on which they grow potatoes, carrot, and cabbage. Even if they are lucky enough to have a good harvest and are able to sell one tonne of potatoes, it means they cultivate the land for six months to receive some 25,000 AMD (US$65) for the whole year.
The only stable income the family receives is 20,000 AMD (US$52) monthly allowance for the children and 25,000 AMD that Levon’s father earns as a watchman in the nearby village hen-house. Combined, these meagre amounts cannot meet the daily needs of the children, let alone costs associated with surgery.
For children like Smbat, health check-ups provided by World Vision Armenia’s Medical Outreach Teams are often life-changing.
“The diagnosis was inflamed tonsils. Doctors said the surgery was a must. They explained that the illness could have an impact on Smbat’s heart”, remembers Gohar.
World Vision provided support not only for the surgery but also for the post-surgical period.
“I was not able to play with my sister Zina, I was very weak. Now I climb trees, I play outside, I sleep well. This year I went to school and haven’t missed any of my classes”, shares Smbat who now resembles a different boy.
“World Vision identified 135 children with similar problems. We took them to the hospital, covered all the expenses related to the surgery and helped their parents during the recovery period”, says Zorik Karapetyan, World Vision Armenia Vardenis Area Development Programme Specialist.
Winter in Gegharkunik starts early and snow can fall as early as October. Temperatures can plummet 35˚C below zero and it is a constant challenge to keep houses and schools at a comfortable temperature.
I climb trees, I play outside, I sleep well. This year I went to school and haven’t missed any of my classes “We heat the houses with peat and with tree branches. To save money six of us sleep together in one room. Levon cuts the peat himself but we still pay some 45,000 AMD (US$116.00) for the space in the mine and renting a truck to transport the peat”, explains Gohar.
“I hate winters. The smoke of the peat spreads everywhere. It smells awful but still does not heat the house well”, says Smbat’s sister Zina, 9.
Even though a gas-main passes nearby, families in Torfavan will not enjoy gas heating in their houses in coming years. The community is small and poor and the company that owns the gas supply is not concerned with installing gas pipelines in the village. The calculations show that each family should spend US$1,000 to have gas in the village.
“My parents put some wood aside and bring it to school to heat the classrooms when it becomes very cold”, says Zina.
“All the parents help the school to heat the classrooms. After all, it is for the health of our children”, says Gohar.
-Ends-
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