AAHPO Holds Family Style Get-Together

By Florence Avakian

NEW YORK—On Friday evening, Oct. 12, more than 65 members of the Armenian American Health Professional Organization (AAHPO) held a family style get-together at the new Byblos restaurant in New York to renew friendships, provide the latest information on the progress of the group, and meet new members and aid them in their quest for positions. In addition to medical doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists, nurses, and dentists, engineers, lawyers, and businessmen also attended to support the cause.

Founded in 1994, the AAHPO represents more than 450 healthcare professionals of every stripe. It not only provides information and help for thousands of Armenians in the U.S., but has expanded its program, conducting its first medical mission to Armenia in 2011, when 15 volunteers visited various clinics and treated patients.

On Oct. 12, the dynamic president of AAHPO for the last three years, Dr. Larry Najarian, welcomed the crowd in his typically enthusiastic manner, and reviewed the recent highlights of the organization. Dr. Khoren Nalbandian, a founder of AAHPO, emphasized that “one of the missions of the organization is its networking program,” which has been responsible for helping thousands of Armenians with their medical needs, and for assisting a number of interns and residents find medical positions. “Never underestimate the power of our individual skills,” he said, adding, “We’ve trained 60 physicians, have taught thousands, and are reaching tens of thousands of people.”

Dr. Raffyi Hovanessian, who has been on medical missions to Armenia 27 times, in his decisive manner took center stage. “Our mission is to improve health care awareness, and to help our brethren in Armenia,” he announced. Dr. Arthur Kubikian and Dr. Aram Cazazian reiterated this message by emphasizing that AAHPO’s primary mission is to “disseminate our knowledge with the public, through different technologies, including television.”

In a warm atmosphere, the event started off with all present introducing themselves and describing their area of expertise. It became apparent that there was a large contingent of doctors from Armenia.

Dangerous situation

Dr. Kim Hekimian has worked with the American University of Armenia (AUA) for several years, concentrating her work on improving public health in Armenia, with a focus on infant nutrition and tobacco control. The nutritional status in Armenia of children up to age five is “chronic malnutrition which, when measured as short height for age, is called stunting,” Hekimian revealed. “There is also the problem of obesity, diabetes, and non-communicable diseases, which is overwhelming the Armenian population. Non-communicable diseases account for 90 percent of all deaths in Armenia.”

Smoking is one of the most severe public health problems in Armenia today, Hekimian continued, with 63 percent of males, and 2 percent of females as self-identified smokers; the latter figure, she pointed out, is not entirely accurate, as women do not readily admit to this vice. In the general adult population, she noted that “50 percent have high blood pressure, 56 percent are overweight, and 24 percent are obese.” And there is also the problem of “over nutrition”—eating the wrong foods that bring on disease. With the increase in poverty, an educational program is sorely needed. Lacking is a public awareness program. In addition, very few graduates of the AUA go into public health,” she said, painting a depressing scenario.

Tobacco epidemic

Dr. Arusyak Haroutyunyian, through a video presentation, concentrated her talk on the “tobacco epidemic” that is driven by the Armenian tobacco industry. “Tobacco is very cheap and is everywhere. Smokers can lose 17 years of their life due to this vice,” she pointed out. In Armenia, 22 percent of all deaths are attributable to smoking. In addition, there is the problem of second-hand smoke affecting children. Fifty-four percent of households have at least one family member who smokes.

Armenia is 1 of 40 countries to have signed an international framework on tobacco control, Haroutyunyian said. In 2004, the Armenian Parliament passed the National Tobacco Control Law. She stressed that there should be no smoking in hospitals and universities, and currently there is no restriction on smoking in restaurants, bars, and on public transportation. The major causes of death in Armenia are heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

Youth involvement

But all the news is not negative. Over the last 10 years, there has been some progress with an advocacy campaign, and the first conference on “Tobacco Health” was held in 2010. But the best achievement was the involvement of the youth who are now actively involved in collecting cigarette butts in the parks. “We have to work with the youth, and the leadership of the country,” said Haroutyunyian with great emphasis.

The warm atmosphere of the evening continued long after the presentations, as members, some of whom had traveled from other states, enjoyed networking and catching up.