 |
| photo by Art Simon |
To maximize the impact of its five-point program on eye disease in Armenia the AECP works closely with all sectors in the country and throughout the world - government, business, nonprofit. These include national and regional authorities, ophthalmologic and medical institutions, international and local organizations and companies, individuals, the Diaspora, international agencies for development and private corporations.
The AECP has developed and is currently managing four large-scale and comprehensive and integrated programs to provide eye care and combat eye disease in Armenia - reaching as many ages and population groups as possible. The AECP works closely with international organizations and each of these programs is designed and implemented in compliance with international standards. Additionally, the AECP works very closely with the Armenian Ministry of Health to establish national eye care goals and to develop targeted programs to achieve those goals. Their involvement in the AECP’s programs has always been significant and encouraging.
1. “Bringing Sight to Armenian Eyes” - 2003 to date
In 2002, the AECP transitioned from a one-person organization to a major nonprofit organization and established offices in the U.S. and in Armenia. At the same time the AECP raised funds to purchase a state-of-the-art Mobile Eye Hospital (MEH), which travelled by boat from the U.S. to Armenia and has been the hallmark of the AECP for the past ten years. The AECP formed a Charitable Foundation in Armenia and in 2003 launched its major initiative - “Bringing Sight to Armenian Eyes” - to strengthen Armenia’s eye care delivery system and to reduce preventable blindness in Armenia.
From 2004 through 2011 the AECP partnered with the United States Agency of International Development (USAID) and with their funding expanded “Bringing Sight to Armenian Eyes.” Together the AECP and USAID implemented the Project’s expansive five-point program and made significant progress in reducing preventable blindness.
The Mobile Eye Hospital, along with medical screening groups, travels throughout Armenia and makes regular visits to all of the marzes (regions) of Armenia. It takes two years to make one complete rotation of the country visiting each marz. The AECP field missions provide Armenians with a full complement of eye care services including general eye examinations (screening), surgery and laser treatment on the MEH, prescription and provision of eyeglasses and referrals to specialists. All medical services are provided by the AECP at no cost to the patients who are low income and at or below poverty levels. The sixth medical mission begins November 2013.
 |
| photo by Art Simon |
From June 2003 to September 2013 the AECP initiative “Bringing Sight to Armenian Eyes” achieved the following results:
- 333,446 people (136,860 children) screened by AECP medical groups in their villages or in adjacent settlements
- 36,651 people received thorough examination on the MEH
- 17,030 patients operated on and treated on the MEH
- 59,588 eyeglasses were provided
- 1,684 health care providers — 61 regional ophthalmologists and 37 ophthalmic nurses — trained in eye diseases
- 514,156 public education handouts distributed
- 450 public education classes for 11,800 children and 900 parents and health activists delivered.
The AECP research program has been able to collect and analyze large amounts of data during the past ten years, which has provided the scientific underpinnings for the development and implementation of eye care programs. Of particular importance is the prevalence of eye diseases and visual impairment among the Armenian population. According to the AECP data approximately 13 percent of Armenia’s adult population (16 years and older) has at least one eye disease that can cause blindness. Among those age 50 and older the percentage is almost three times as high or 37 percent with cataract as the leading cause at 27 percent. Further, nearly five percent of Armenia’s adult population have visual impairment - blind or have low vision - and 51 percent of those cases are a result of cataract.
The leading cause of blindness in the world is cataract as it is in Armenia. The overwhelming majority of surgeries performed on the MEH are cataract cases. Most are performed with an advanced method of phaco emulsification (96 percent) and the IOL installation rate is 98.5 percent. The rate of success for cataract surgeries on the MEH is close to 85 percent with physicians following the standards set by the World Health Organization.
