Parents dream for their son to live a full life
Asya Hakobyan, 31 is a tender and devoted mother who knows all too well how it feels when your child is ill and you can do very little to help. Her first child Haykaz, now seven years old, was born with Infantile Cerebral Paralysis, and now the family struggles to improve his health and to give him an education. All Asya dreams about is for her son to be able to walk, interact with peers and live a full life.“When I got married I dreamt of having healthy children who could be a blessing to me and my husband”, says Asya, who lives in Gegharkunik Village in Armenia’s Gegharkunik Region.
Unfortunately Asya was unable to fall pregnant. “I have spent most of my life in hospitals. I was going from hospital to hospital receiving treatment after treatment”, remembers Asya.
When he was born doctors told me he can never walk by himself...
Both in Gegharkunik and in the regional centre of Gavar Asya was not able to access the medical assistance she needed. Her husband Artur Voskanyan, 37, decided to take her to the capital Yerevan.
Many of the rural primary health care facilities in Armenia do not have appropriate equipment and supplies, while healthcare providers lack proper knowledge on modern methods of diagnosis and treatment.
Deteriorating conditions in Gavar Maternity Hospital have an adverse effect on the health of women and newborns particularly due to the lack of water supply, sanitation problems, lack of detergents, hygienic supplies, and antiseptics.
Hospital after hospital, treatment after treatment; “We spent all our savings. It is not cheap to receive treatment in Yerevan, we also had to pay for my living in the capital”, says Asya.
Asya\'s treatment took eight years; but when her first child was born in 2002 her happiness was replaced with deep sorrow; Haykaz was born with Infantile Cerebral Paralysis. “When he was born doctors told me he can never walk by himself”, says Asya. “I didn’t believe them and from the very first year I took Haykaz to doctors to examine him and to prescribe treatment”.
Again hospitals, medicines and doctors, and again in Yerevan; “All we have is our small piece of land where we cultivate potatoes, and an old truck which my husband lends to the villagers from time to time. This is all our income”, says Asya.
“Our country\'s law says my child had the right to receive treatment free of charge because he was not yet seven years old. But when it deals with your child’s health, one never thinks of postponing the treatment because of the price you are asked to pay even if the law says you can do it free of charge”, explains Asya.
When Haykaz was one-year-old, Asya gave birth to another boy, who they named Grigor.
Two labours, bland food, and frequent visits to different hospitals have taken their toll on Asya’s health. Today she complains of regular heart pains, as well as hypotension.
If someone is not feeling well, you can never buy the necessary medicines There is no drugstore in Gegharkunik Village, “If someone is not feeling well, you can never buy the necessary medicines. To buy the medicines you need to go to Gavar, which is a 30 minute drive”, says Asya.
Consulting a health professional is not something Asya’s family can afford. Notwithstanding her poor health, Asya works in the field hand-in-hand with her husband. Every day they take their son Haykaz and go to the fields to plant potato and take care of their land. “Potato is our daily and only bread; we need to take care of it”, explains Asya. “All we eat is potato; sometimes we can afford to buy macaroni, but potato is what we all eat in this village”, adds Artur.
When asked whether the direct sun in the fields and the manual work are dangerous for her health, Asya answers, “I have no other choice”.
According to the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) of 2005, Gegharkunik Region has the second highest malnutrition rate in Armenia (21% of children are stunted, 12% are underweight).
The micronutrient deficiency (such as iron and vitamin D) is widespread. In Armenia about 37% of children under 5 have anemia, with the highest rate of 62% in Gegharkunik Region. According to the specialists, micronutrient deficiencies increase the risk of severe illness, and can cause health problems such as visual impairment, mental retardation and bone deformation.
Anemia in women is also a problem in Armenia particularly for pregnant women, leading to premature delivery and low birth weight. Gegharkunik Region has the highest rate (33% according to DHS of 2005) of anemia among women of reproductive age.
Today the Voskanyans have a complicated relationship with Artur’s family. “This year we had to move out from my parents’ house and find a shelter for ourselves”, explains Artur. “As we had to build a house, we decided not to take Haykaz to Yerevan any more”, says Artur.
Fortunately, a beneficiary organisation opened an Arabkir Medical Centre in Gavar which provides healthcare to the residents of the region free of charge. “It is a good centre and Haykaz takes important physical exercises there, but… the doctors are young and not experienced, and the centre is not properly equipped”, says Asya.
...he will need to be carried to and from school because he is unable to walk by himself “In Yerevan they used to prescribe her vitamins which were very helpful. But now these doctors don’t prescribe. But even if they did, we could hardly pay for them any more”, says Artur.
The family spends more than US$10 every month on transportation to reach Gavar for Haykaz\'s treatment. This is already a huge amount of money for the family.
Asya is also concerned about the education that Haykaz should receive. “There is no kindergarten in our village, but Haykaz (7) wants to communicate with his peers and learn to read and write. When my younger son Grigor goes to school the coming year, Haykaz will go with him”, Asya says.
The school is happy to register Haykaz says the family. Haykaz is a clever boy and a fast learner, as well as a nice and loving child and no one doubts his ability to thrive. He also has many friends among his neighbours who are eager to help him at school. But he will need to be carried to and from school because he is unable to walk by himself. Neither the family’s home, yard nor school are conducive to using a wheelchair.
When Haykaz was examined in Yerevan, doctors said he had a hip dislocation; if it is corrected he may walk by himself, “One of the doctors in Gavar Centre promised to operate on Haykaz and to fix his hip dislocation free of charge, but we will have to pay for the post surgery treatment and medicines. If we only had the money to pay for that.... This doctor says Haykaz may walk after the surgery. I don\'t know”, says Asya.
Unfortunately Asya was unable to fall pregnant. “I have spent most of my life in hospitals. I was going from hospital to hospital receiving treatment after treatment”, remembers Asya.
When he was born doctors told me he can never walk by himself...
Both in Gegharkunik and in the regional centre of Gavar Asya was not able to access the medical assistance she needed. Her husband Artur Voskanyan, 37, decided to take her to the capital Yerevan.
Many of the rural primary health care facilities in Armenia do not have appropriate equipment and supplies, while healthcare providers lack proper knowledge on modern methods of diagnosis and treatment.
Deteriorating conditions in Gavar Maternity Hospital have an adverse effect on the health of women and newborns particularly due to the lack of water supply, sanitation problems, lack of detergents, hygienic supplies, and antiseptics.
Hospital after hospital, treatment after treatment; “We spent all our savings. It is not cheap to receive treatment in Yerevan, we also had to pay for my living in the capital”, says Asya.
Asya\'s treatment took eight years; but when her first child was born in 2002 her happiness was replaced with deep sorrow; Haykaz was born with Infantile Cerebral Paralysis. “When he was born doctors told me he can never walk by himself”, says Asya. “I didn’t believe them and from the very first year I took Haykaz to doctors to examine him and to prescribe treatment”.
Again hospitals, medicines and doctors, and again in Yerevan; “All we have is our small piece of land where we cultivate potatoes, and an old truck which my husband lends to the villagers from time to time. This is all our income”, says Asya.
“Our country\'s law says my child had the right to receive treatment free of charge because he was not yet seven years old. But when it deals with your child’s health, one never thinks of postponing the treatment because of the price you are asked to pay even if the law says you can do it free of charge”, explains Asya.
When Haykaz was one-year-old, Asya gave birth to another boy, who they named Grigor.
Two labours, bland food, and frequent visits to different hospitals have taken their toll on Asya’s health. Today she complains of regular heart pains, as well as hypotension.
If someone is not feeling well, you can never buy the necessary medicines There is no drugstore in Gegharkunik Village, “If someone is not feeling well, you can never buy the necessary medicines. To buy the medicines you need to go to Gavar, which is a 30 minute drive”, says Asya.
Consulting a health professional is not something Asya’s family can afford. Notwithstanding her poor health, Asya works in the field hand-in-hand with her husband. Every day they take their son Haykaz and go to the fields to plant potato and take care of their land. “Potato is our daily and only bread; we need to take care of it”, explains Asya. “All we eat is potato; sometimes we can afford to buy macaroni, but potato is what we all eat in this village”, adds Artur.
When asked whether the direct sun in the fields and the manual work are dangerous for her health, Asya answers, “I have no other choice”.
According to the Demographic Health Survey (DHS) of 2005, Gegharkunik Region has the second highest malnutrition rate in Armenia (21% of children are stunted, 12% are underweight).
The micronutrient deficiency (such as iron and vitamin D) is widespread. In Armenia about 37% of children under 5 have anemia, with the highest rate of 62% in Gegharkunik Region. According to the specialists, micronutrient deficiencies increase the risk of severe illness, and can cause health problems such as visual impairment, mental retardation and bone deformation.
Anemia in women is also a problem in Armenia particularly for pregnant women, leading to premature delivery and low birth weight. Gegharkunik Region has the highest rate (33% according to DHS of 2005) of anemia among women of reproductive age.
Today the Voskanyans have a complicated relationship with Artur’s family. “This year we had to move out from my parents’ house and find a shelter for ourselves”, explains Artur. “As we had to build a house, we decided not to take Haykaz to Yerevan any more”, says Artur.
Fortunately, a beneficiary organisation opened an Arabkir Medical Centre in Gavar which provides healthcare to the residents of the region free of charge. “It is a good centre and Haykaz takes important physical exercises there, but… the doctors are young and not experienced, and the centre is not properly equipped”, says Asya.
...he will need to be carried to and from school because he is unable to walk by himself “In Yerevan they used to prescribe her vitamins which were very helpful. But now these doctors don’t prescribe. But even if they did, we could hardly pay for them any more”, says Artur.
The family spends more than US$10 every month on transportation to reach Gavar for Haykaz\'s treatment. This is already a huge amount of money for the family.
Asya is also concerned about the education that Haykaz should receive. “There is no kindergarten in our village, but Haykaz (7) wants to communicate with his peers and learn to read and write. When my younger son Grigor goes to school the coming year, Haykaz will go with him”, Asya says.
The school is happy to register Haykaz says the family. Haykaz is a clever boy and a fast learner, as well as a nice and loving child and no one doubts his ability to thrive. He also has many friends among his neighbours who are eager to help him at school. But he will need to be carried to and from school because he is unable to walk by himself. Neither the family’s home, yard nor school are conducive to using a wheelchair.
When Haykaz was examined in Yerevan, doctors said he had a hip dislocation; if it is corrected he may walk by himself, “One of the doctors in Gavar Centre promised to operate on Haykaz and to fix his hip dislocation free of charge, but we will have to pay for the post surgery treatment and medicines. If we only had the money to pay for that.... This doctor says Haykaz may walk after the surgery. I don\'t know”, says Asya.
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