Tag: Ministry of health

With declining birth rates since the 1990s and the prevalence of infertility in Armenia, the government launched fertility programs. Astghik Karapetyan looks at how effective they have been.

If an accident were ever to happen at the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant, how prepared are authorities and relevant state bodies in Armenia to respond to such a disaster? Hranoush Dermoyan explains.

People living with infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS often face discrimination not only by society, but by medical staff. This causes challenges with the care these patients desperately need.

The COVID-19 pandemic hit the tourism industry hard globally and Armenia was not spared. Another obstacle hindering development prospects for tourism in Armenia is regional and border stability which will also play an important role when travel resumes in full force.

Armenia’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout has been comparably slow. To date, just over 30,000 people have gotten vaccinated in the country. Public health specialist Araz Chiloyan who is working at the Ministry of Health focusing on vaccine procurement and distribution, speaks to EVN Report about the available vaccines, the issues and challenges with the vaccination effort.

Armenia is now in a teachable moment. It is time to double down on disaster preparedness and emergency care development by taking proactive measures and moving from reaction to prevention and mitigation.

COVID-19 vaccines are being administered globally in the hopes of curbing the spread of the virus. Gohar Abrahamyan looks at the international race to develop the vaccine, the different vaccines currently being administered and Armenia’s position.

EVN Report looks back at a year that forced the Armenian people to battle multiple fronts, from the COVID-19 pandemic to a 44-day war launched by Azerbaijan that resulted in devastating human and territorial losses.

For the first time in weeks, the number of active COVID-19 cases dips below 10,000; Health Minister Arsen Torosyan meets with German medics who are in Armenia to work with local medical staff; temporary restrictions on movement have been imposed in the village of Haterk in Artsakh and more.

The Ministry of Health urges citizens to refrain from celebrating Vardavar; the Arabkir Medical Center which has been treating children infected with COVID-19 provides an update on the situation; Head of the National Immunization Program says vaccinations have decreased and more.

Taking into consideration the situation at the border, Prime Minister Pashinyan underscored the need for the country to be strong, urging citizens to follow guidelines to slow down the rate of infection; the Health Minister says there has been some progress over the last two weeks but more needs to be done.

Armenian and Iranian health ministries to collaborate in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic; Lithuania’s First Lady sends gifts to Armenian children infected by the virus; Health Minister Arsen Torosyan meets with Italian Ambassador to express gratitude for the group of Italian medics who had assisted Armenian medical staff and more.

The State of Emergency is extended for the fourth time until August 12; Deputy Prime Minister and Warden of the Special Commission Tigran Avinyan provides updates on the COVID-19 situation during a special session of parliament and more.

All those with chronic respiratory illnesses will no longer be obligated to wear a face mask in open public spaces; during the Government Session, Health Minister Arsen Torosyan said that the COVID-19 situation in the country remains stable but critical and that the healthcare sector needs to continue expanding its capacity.

During a press conference today, Health Minister Arsen Torosyan presented the Ministry’s strategy and key actions in the battle against COVID-19 over the past several months. Currently, over 500 people have lost their lives to the virus; the cumulative number of infections is expected to surpass 30,000 in the coming days.

While it is still early to assess the effectiveness of the Armenian government’s COVID-19 response, Lusine Sargsyan reviews some of the key measures authorities introduced over the past five months.

Elderly residents of the Nork Old Age Home who were infected with COVID-19 have all recovered; volunteers distribute face masks and explain anti-epidemic rules at several dozen stands placed throughout Yerevan; Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says the State of Emergency will likely be extended and more.

A new infection hub is detected in Artsakh; Health Minister Arsen Torosyan says that the Spitak Medical Center is now part of the network of hospitals treating COVID-19 patients; Armenia received 10,000 COVID-19 diagnostic tests from the World Health Organization; authorities continue to urge citizen to follow safety guidelines and more.

According to the Health Ministry, almost 400 medical personnel, including doctors, nurses and orderlies have been infected since March 1; there over 650 patients in critical or extremely critical condition; strict safety measures to be implemented during university entrance exams to be held in the coming week and more.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says everyone should “restart” their behavior and this includes state bodies and agencies, the police force and businesses and that an ineffective lockdown is more problematic than no lockdown at all; Health Minister Arsen Torosyan calls for a “conscious lockdown” and more.

As the number of cases continues to rise in Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says stricter regulations will be imposed in the near future; anesthesiologist and ICU specialist Dr. Karen Tonoyan says the virus has the capacity to destroy families and urges people to come together and fight alongside medical staff.

The twenty-second assistance package aimed at mitigating the consequences of COVID-19 is rolled out; EBRD provides $20 million loan for businesses affected by the economic impact of the pandemic; Armenia registers another one-day record of new cases bringing the total number of infected to 22,488.

A second group of French doctors arrived tonight; Prime Minister Pashinyan says that if all of the government’s resources were directed exclusively to the healthcare sector, Armenia would not just have experienced an economic decline but rather an economic collapse.

As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout Armenia, it is leaving behind physical and emotional scars. In this moving piece, Gohar Abrahamyan speaks with those who contracted the virus and survived.

Health Minister Arsen Torosyan says more hospitals will join the network of COVID-19 specialized medical centers; French doctor says he is greatly impressed with medical staff in Armenia; first group of Russian doctors arrive to support local doctors as they battle the virus and more.

The number of public kindergartens operating in Yerevan will be restricted; a new COVID-19 infection hub has been identified in the region of Martakert in Artsakh, with two communities coming under lockdown for an indefinite period of time; the price of domestically-produced face masks is expected to decrease and more.

Health officials see encouraging trend in COVID-19 numbers; a new quarantine center is built for children; doctors from Lithuania expected to arrive in a few days; the Republic of Artsakh registers another 12 new cases bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 91.

A team of French doctors arrive to assist medical staff; during the daily briefing, Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan provides updates on their COVID-19 activities; 225 Armenian citizens return from Saint Petersburg on a charter flight and more.

Health Minister Arsen Torosyan starts posting names of neighborhoods where the virus is spreading in clusters in an effort to encourage people to avoid coming together without masks or physical distancing; PM Nikol Pashinyan says despite all efforts, many people are still not wearing masks and more.

Azerbaijani hackers release the personal data of 3,500 COVID-19 patients in Armenia; PM Nikol Pashinyan discusses how Armenia’s Soviet legacy complicates government communication; civic activists form anti-epidemic teams, and more.

As the COVID-19 situation remains critical in Armenia, the government decides to extend the State of Emergency for another month; doctors from France and Lithuania expected to arrive to help local medical staff; over 150 businesses are forced to suspend operations for 24 hours for violating safety guidelines and more.

Georgia will be sending a team of doctors to Armenia to assist local medical staff in their fight against COVID-19; Health Minister Arsen Torosyan says the situation remains critical but the healthcare system continues to expand its capacity; the Republic of Artsakh extends the emergency situation for another 30 days and more.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan says that coronavirus is not just affecting the healthcare sector but also the country’s political sector; Lithuania and Estonia promise to help Armenia; Regional Governors brief the public on the COVID-19 situation in the regions, and more.

While the situation remains critical, PM Pashinyan says there are hopes it will start stabilizing; Health Minister Arsen Torosyan explains the increasing recovery numbers; an Armenian doctor living in Germany returns to work with patients in critical condition, and more.

Three high-ranking security officials sacked after it was revealed that one of them had held his son’s wedding in his private home; during the daily briefing, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said there are political forces whose objective is to see the virus spread and spiral out of control and more.

Armenia’s healthcare system is at the brink of collapse according to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan; more than 200 people infected with COVID-19 are waiting to be hospitalized; the village of Zoragyugh is placed under lockdown and more.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called for a mass anti-epidemic movement in the country, where each citizen is not only responsible for their own behavior but also for those around them; number of staff at kindergartens test positive; police given orders to strictly enforce safety regulations and more.

As numbers increase at an alarming rate, stricter enforcement will be implemented; PM Nikol Pashinyan says that the best tool is public monitoring; an ICU doctor appeals to the public to follow safety guidelines to allow medical staff to finally see their families, and more.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan begins posting photos of people violating safety regulations on his Facebook page, garnering criticism; a 4-year-old with COVID-19 is diagnosed with Kawasaki syndrome; Armenia’s Police Chief says that they have registered over 20,000 violations since the State of Emergency was declared.

Armenia registers another daily record as the cumulative total of infections hits 10,000; the names and birthdates of the deceased are leaked on Facebook; Prime Minister Pashinyan warns that if people don’t comply with safety guidelines, another lockdown will be imminent.

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Armenia registers a new one-day record of 460 COVID-19 infections. As the situation continues to deteriorate, per capita figures have surpassed those of Iran and France and are now on par with those of Russia. Prime Minister Pashinyan said that if this pace continues, Armenia will soon reach per capita numbers similar to Italy’s.

Daily deaths hit a new high at 15. During a press briefing this evening, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the situation is extremely grave and called on people to follow safety regulations as new cases continue to mount.

Strict monitoring underway throughout the country to ensure compliance with safety regulations; government approves nineteenth social assistance package to mitigate the fallout from COVID-19; Health Ministry says that hydroxychloroquine is being prescribed to high-risk patients and those with pneumonia infected by the virus.

Following the daily meeting of the Special Commission of the State of Emergency, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan and Health Minister Arsen Torosyan held a briefing to provide a situation update as the number of cases increase.

Armenia’s Ministry of Health says number of new cases is due to increased testing; several staff and children at a Yerevan orphanage test positive; a number of businesses violating regulations have been shut down and more.

As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed the country in a Facebook live, urging people to follow safety measures. Health Minister Arsen Torosyan says there are only 32 available ICU beds left.

During a press briefing, Health Minister Arsen Torosyan said that if the current trend continues, Armenia will reach over 10,000 cases of COVID-19 in two weeks; 270 children and 23 pregnant women have been infected with the virus; Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the situation is more serious than citizens are viewing it and much more.

As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rise in the country, authorities are appealing to the public to practice social responsibility and not believe in conspiracy theories; Health Minister Arsen Torosyan says there will be strategic changes in medical care and delivery and much more.

Armenia registers record number of new cases in one day; Health Minister Arsen Torosyan makes appeal to stop disseminating and believing in unfounded conspiracy theories; Yerevan city officials hold press conference, updating residents about new regulations and more.

When a State of Emergency was declared in Armenia because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people lost their jobs. Many of them were unregistered workers and today have found themselves more vulnerable than ever.

More than 40 elderly residents of the Nork Old Age Home and several staff members have tested positive for COVID-19; restrictions on the operation of retail outlets (including malls), restaurants and cafes, gyms, kindergartens, preschools and other spheres lifted; more medical supplies and equipment arrive in Armenia.

Armenia’s government extends State of Emergency until June 13; a number of restrictions will be lifted including restarting public transportation and reopening of kindergartens; a special session of parliament convenes to hear Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan, the Warden of the Special Commission, present the Government’s proposal.

Armenia sets another record with 180 new confirmed cases of COVID-19; Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a Facebook live intimated that the State of Emergency will most likely be extended and more.

Two more cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Artsakh and 102 new cases confirmed in Armenia, death toll reaches 42; a dozen responders have tested positive for the virus; government rolls out seventeenth assistance program and more.

The Ministry of Health reported that 163 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Armenia, bringing the total number of infected to 2,782, with 1,600 active cases; Armenia’s Health and Labor Inspectorate provided updates on monitoring of businesses; Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan spoke about the government’s response to COVID-19 in parliament and more.

There are now 2,619 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Armenia and a total of 40 deaths. As restrictions are lifted, the government has issued a number of health and safety regulations for retail stores, cafes and restaurants.

The Special Commission of the State of Emergency has released a new set of measures as a number of restrictions are to be lifted; Prime Minister Pashinyan, Health Minister Arsen Torosyan and Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan discuss the current situation; over 13% of COVID-19 cases have been registered among medical staff and more.

A record number of new COVID-19 cases are registered in Armenia, however, the government is still considering allowing some businesses to reopen before the end of the State of Emergency; the government rolls out the fifteenth assistance program and expands benefits for utility payments.

According to the Ministry of Health, 65 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed; parliament approves a number of government proposals; more updates provided on economic assistance packages by the Ministry of Economy and more.

Government plans to gradually minimize restrictions; all forms of economic activity will be allowed to operate in the coming ten days; Parliament holds a special session; 59 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed and more.

The Minister of Education, Science, Sport and Culture provides updates about how the academic year will end; the Deputy Minister of Economy provides information regarding economic assistance packages as the number of new infections continues to rise.

Another 230 Armenian citizens arrive in Yerevan from St. Petersburg on a charter flight; a number of restrictions on economic activity are lifted; updates on tax amendments; schedule for virtual commemoration of the Armenian Genocide; 50 new cases of COVID-19 are confirmed and more.

The number of new COVID-19 cases rises by 72 in Armenia; during a press briefing, Deputy Ministers of Economy speak about the second assistance package aimed at mitigating the economic fallout of COVID-19 in the agricultural sector, 203 Armenian citizens return from Russia on a charter flight and more.

The 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide will be commemorated in different formats this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic; the Health Minister calls on people to abide by the regulations of the State of Emergency; a small town is placed in lockdown after 39 cases of the virus are confirmed; the Foreign Ministry provides updates about Armenians abroad and more.

Armenia’s police brief public on police activities during the State of Emergency; Prime Minister’s office provides further information on a number of economic assistance packages; 200 citizens return from Russia on charter flights and 48 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed, bringing the cumulative total to 1339 cases.

The first baby is born to a mother with coronavirus; Prime Minister Pashinyan speaks to the nation in a live address about the COVID-19 situation; the High Commissioner for Diaspora Affairs holds a press conference; another case of COVID-19 is confirmed in Artsakh and more.

A town in the Ararat marz is under lockdown following a funeral service; the government introduces another assistance program, makes changes to previous ones to include more beneficiaries; the Health and Labor Inspectorate outlines sanitary requirements for those businesses that are allowed to operate and more.

Press conferences are held by Deputy Ministers of Economy and Head of the Central Bank of Armenia’s Financial Stability Department; testing for COVID-19 continues in Artsakh; 44 new cases of COVID-19 are confirmed in Armenia including another fatality bringing the total number of deaths to 17 in the country.

Armenia’s government rolls out a twelfth social assistance package; Minister of Labor and Social Affairs holds a press conference; Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is confident that Armenia can suppress the transmission of COVID-19 and more.

Health Minister Arsen Torosyan intends to ask the government to extend the state of emergency, number of COVID-19 cases in Armenia rises to 937, Artsakh registers another two cases and more.

The number of COVID-19 cases rises to 921 in Armenia; Artsakh registers two more cases; government rolls out a number of assistance programs; Armenians in Turkey to be brought to Armenia through Georgia and much more.

The number of COVID-19 cases rises to 881 in Armenia; updates and information about mobile phone tracking to follow movements of the population; local and Diasporan Armenians assisting the government to resolve issues with ventilators and much more.

The number of COVID-19 cases increases by 20, bringing the total number of infected in Armenia to 853; the Republic of Artsakh registers its first case of the virus; updates on distance learning and cultural institutions; the Food Safety Inspectorate continues monitoring food safety in the country and more.

The number of COVID-19 cases increases by only 11, bringing the total number of infected to 833; while Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is optimistic, Health Minister Arsen Torosyan calls on continued vigilance; in a three-hour live, Pashinyan answers citizens’ questions and more.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Armenia rises to 770; Pashinyan speaks about increasing capital expenditure to create new jobs; 2000 Armenian citizens in Russia on a waiting list to return to Yerevan; and more.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Armenia rises to 736; the Health and Labor Inspectorate provides updates and information about monitoring businesses and organizations; Parliament reallocates funds to the state budget for the prevention and treatment of patients and more.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Armenia rises to 663; the fifth COVID-19 patient dies; the Minister of Health compares the restructuring of Armenia’s healthcare system to combat the pandemic to wartime mobilization efforts; the government introduces the ninth assistance program providing support to families facing economic hardship and have children under 18 years of age and more.

In this Q&A with EVN Report, epidemiologist and expert in vaccine development Seth Berkley talks about efforts to find an effective vaccine and a global mechanism to make sure it is available to those who need it.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Armenia rises to 571; tighter restrictions on movement and self-isolation is extended to April 13; Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan clarifies bill on tracking mobile phone data; Ministry of Economy provides more information on financial assistance packages; a leaked photo of a field hospital raises tensions and more.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Armenia rises to 532; the Special Commission on the State of Emergency extends stricter restrictions for another ten days; parliament fails to pass a controversial bill that would track mobile phone data in the morning, and then in a last-minute session, forces the bill through in the first reading and more.

Economist Ani Avetisyan takes a closer look at the numbers behind the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parliament votes on controversial amendments to the Law on the State of Emergency and the Law on Electronic Communication; a special government session discusses three new financial assistance packages; the head of the Tourism Committee says the sector has been one of the hardest hit and much more.

As the world grapples with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, the time will come when governments will have to implement a coordinated national response program, including Armenia.

The experience of combating the coronavirus pandemic in Armenia can and should serve as an important foundation to develop long-term and institutionalized mechanisms of crisis management with the support of Diasporan experts and professionals.

Educational institutions around the world are moving to online learning as the COVID-19 pandemic wreaks havoc. Narek Manukyan examines the Armenian education system’s preparedness for distance learning following the government’s announcement of a one-month state of emergency in the country.

Following the decision to declare a state of emergency on March 16, 2020, the Armenian government has set up the “Armenian Unified Infocenter” that will be updating the population about the regulations of the state of emergency.

EVN Report will be providing regular updates from the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization and other reliable sources on the situation of COVID-19 in Armenia.

What is medical waste and how should it be treated? Because of the cost involved in proper treatment, it is possible that potentially biohazardous waste is ending up in municipal dumps.

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer among women in Armenia. Cost and access to treatment, lack of awareness and cultural stigmas are some of the reasons. A new mammography program aims to address these issues.

Armenia is slowly inching towards a model of universal healthcare where all citizens will be able to access quality healthcare without falling into financial hardship. While recent developments have definitively set Armenia on that path, much remains to be done to ensure that no one falls through the cracks.

Over 5500 senior citizens in Armenia who are not eligible to receive a pension, are on welfare. They receive about $50 US per month. Armenia’s minimum food basket, according to the Ministry of Health stands at about $72 US per month. In this photo story, EVN Report tries to understand how these pensioners survive.

A member of parliament for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and owner of the SAS Supermarket chain, Artak Sargsyan is at the heart of a new scandal. In an audio recording, a representative of Sargsyan speaks to SAS employees where he threatens to fire all those who do not present lists of potential voters for the RPA.