Free Eye Care Initiative Launched by Orange Foundation and Armenian Eye Care Project

The Orange Foundation and the Armenian Eye Care Project (AECP) launch their joint project of free eye screenings for local inhabitants and free treatments for socially vulnerable people in the Armenian regions. The project of 2013 year starts from the Kotayk region.

The project will be realized in two steps: first ophthalmological teams will provide free eye screenings for all those who will like to have one, then all socially vulnerable inhabitants who have been diagnosed with an issue needing an operation will be directed to the mobile eye hospital, where they will get surgical treatment for free. Those who need glasses will be provided with a pair especially designed for them.

The work schedule of the ophthalmological teams in Kotayk marz is as follows: they will work in Nairi region until March 19, in Kotayk region - from March 20 till April 2 and in Hrazdan region - from 3 till 16 April. Later the mobile eye hospital will stop in Yeghvard, in Abovian, in Charentsavan and in Hrazdan. For more information, inhabitants of the marz should go to the health center of their town or village, check the announcement put up in their community or call 010559068. It is estimated that around 4,000 people will undergo eye screenings, around 300 surgeries will be realized, and around 1,500 glasses will be provided.

Nazareth Seferian, Orange Armenia Foundation Secretary General, said: “With the work we have carried out together during the last two years, we were able to help tens of thousands of people. We are happy to launch the 2013 project that will help us to visit new regions and bring a real difference to other peoples’ and families’ lives. We call everyone to visit and have a free eye screening, as the sooner the issue is detected, the bigger is the probability that it can be prevented or eliminated”.

Orange Foundation is supporting the AECP in implementation of its projects, scheduled for 2013, by allotting AMD 26 500 000.

The cooperation between the AECP and the Orange Foundation started two years ago and during 2011 and 2012 covered 6 marzes: Aragatsotn, Shirak, Syunik, Vayots Dzor, Ararat and Armavir.  Within this period 23,364 adults and 5,783 children have had a medical consultation.