Institute of Child and Adolescent Health
The Institute is one of the cornerstones of Arabkir Joint Medical Centre - ICAH, which is the largest reference medical center in Armenia rendering medical inpatient and outpatient services and care to about 35 000 children a year.
Being the successor of the Republican Center for Child Health Care Organization and Methodology and reestablished in 2003, the Institute of Child and Adolescent Health (ICAH) is one of the leading and headmost health establishments in Armenia in the field of Child and Adolescent Health. The mission of the Institute is to promote healthy growth and development of children and adolescents of Armenia.
The activities of the Institute are mainly aimed at development of national health policies and regulations, development of concepts, strategic and investment programs, capacity building of health care specialists, development of innovative approaches, promotion of exchange of experience between the specialists, local and foreign experts to contribute to sustainable development of health care in the sphere of child and adolescent health.
The main directions of the activities implemented by ICAH are presented below:
- to conduct researches, studies and surveys to collect and analyze information and statistical data on the status of child and adolescent health in Armenia
- to participate in development and enhancement of national policies and regulations for improving the health system at different levels
- to develop and implement projects and investment programs
- to provide support in developing the clinical guidelines for the child and adolescent health
- to support activities aimed at children rights advocacy
- to improve capacities of health professionals through trainings, seminars, workshops and lectures
- to foster and reinforce activities aimed at healthy lifestyle promotion
- to establish youth-friendly services
- to improve services for early identification and management of non-communicable diseases in children
- to arrange visits of mobile medical teams to the regions of Armenian to provide specialized medical care
Basic principles of our work
Collaboration:
ICAH is aimed to strengthen collaboration with all key stakeholders, such as health professionals and relevant national authorities, national and international experts, medical specialists and professionals from the field of Public Health, governmental institutions and non-governmental organizations as well as international and bilateral organizations.
Integration:
ICAH works toward integration of efforts of all sectors, especially health, education and social sectors; integration of the primary, secondary and tertiary level services within the health sector.
Innovation:
For many years ICAH has been at the forefront of efforts to improve health status of Armenian children by introducing innovative approaches in the pediatrics. The ICAH makes large efforts to bring its own practices and practices of other health institutions functioning in the CAH field into line with the best international standards.
Effectiveness:
Attaching special importance to effectiveness, the ICAH continuously improves its activities to ensure best possible results and effective management of limited resources available in a country like Armenia.
Accountability:
The history of collaboration of the ICAH with many partners from different countries has always demonstrated the important role of the accountability in building long-term partnerships.
Sustainability:
The latest history of the health sector of Armenia gives many examples of the initially perfect projects, which disrupted with the expiry of external financing. Therefore, since early stages of implementation of any program, sustainability is one of the highest priorities.
ICAH ACTIVITIES
HEALTH POLICIES AND STRATEGIES
SUPPORT IN DEVELOPING THE NATIONAL CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN FOR 2009-2015, implemented by Ministry of Health in cooperation with the who European office of WHO in 2006-2009.
The ICAH developed the key parts of the strategy and action plan: “Developmental Disorders and Disability”, “Adolescent Health”, “Chronic Diseases” , “Injuries and Abuse”
CHILD HEALTH NOW CAMPAIGN MATERIAL DESIGN - SITUATION ANALYSIS, POSITION PAPER AND POLICY BRIEF PROJECT, in cooperation with World Vision Armenia, 2010-2011
The project aimed to analyze the situation in Neonatal, Child and Mother Health services and develop specific recommendations and mechanisms for their improvement at the national and regional level.
CONTINUOUS MEDICAL EDUCATION IN PEDIATRICS
The ICAH held trainings in Yerevan as well as organized hundreds of visits of leading pediatric experts to the most regions of Armenia to provide lectures and training, share their advanced experience with local specialists.
COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT: IMPROVEMENT OF KNOWLEDGE AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS OF HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS, implemented under support of the Children of Armenia Foundation, Armavir marz, 2005 .
The ICAH developed Pediatric Manual and the set of clinical guidelines on management of the most common childhood diseases in cooperation with the team of senior pediatric experts of Armenia. The ICAH introduced unique model on-the-job training, which has been used at different trainings.
ARRANGEMENT OF OUTREACH MEDICAL SERVICES
Under support of the Ministry of Health as well as within the frames of different programs, the ICAH arranges visits of mobile medical teams to the regions and remote areas of Armenia. Many thousands of sick children were consulted, treated and referred by the best pediatric professionals of Armenia.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND REHABILITATION
Acitivities of ICAH in this field are aimed to prevent child disabilities, improve health and wellbeing of children with developental delays and promote their social integration through implementation of early intervention program, improvement of knowledge and skills of relevant specialists and establishing of specialized child rehabilitation centers in regions of Armenia.
HEALTHY START: PREVENTING DISABILITY AND PROMOTING THE RIGHTS OF DISABLED CHILDREN IN ARMENIA project, in collaboration with the Armenian office of Mission East Danish NGO and Bridge of Hope under support of the Agency for International Development of the Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Armavir, Gegharkunik and Tavoush marzes, 2006-to present
Regional Child Development and Rehabilitation Centers were established in Armavir and Tavoush regions of Armenia; the multidisciplinary staff of CDRCs was trained on physical, mental and social rehabilitation of the children. The comprehensive set of teaching materials for medical doctors, nurses, allied medical and other specialists was developed, including “Basics of Child Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics” textbook, “Child Developmental Disorders and Basics of Rehabilitation” manual, set of modules for rehabilitation teams, as well as educational leaflets for parents. To improve early detection and referral of children with special need, doctors and nurses in target areas were trained on child developmental disorders. The new system of surveillance on child disability was developed and introduced in CDRCs.
ADOLESCENT HEALTH
PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE ADOLESCENT HEALTH, 2005-to present
The ICAH provided support in developing the National Concept paper of Youth Friendly Health Services, in cooperation with UNICEF and For Family and Health NGO, which was approved by the Ministry of Health in 2005. There were introduced the series of activities, including sensitization of policy-makers, health and education professionals, public to adolescent health issues; adaptation of WHO Orientation Program on Adolescent Health and trainings of the medical staff; development of the draft standards of adolescent friendly services; analysis of legislation and organization of the parliament hearings, development of educational materials for medical staff and young people/public.
In 2010 the ICAH participated in the review of services, implemented under guidance of the senior international expert in this field. The results of interviews and focus group discussions in 4 focal points are reflected in the “Strengthening Health Services for School-age Children and Adolescents in Armenia” report, which outlines perspectives and recommendations.
YOUTH FRIENDLY SERVICES IN COLLEGES OF ARMAVIR AND KOTAYK REGIONS program, implemented in collaboration with Jinishyan Memorial Foundation and Child Health Care Association, 2006
The goal of the project was to promote healthy lifestyle and prevent sexual and reproductive health problems among the students of colleges of Armavir and Kotayk regions.
STUDY ON HEALTH BEHAVIORS OF SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN
The pilot study on HEALTH BEHAVIORAL IN SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN (HBSC) was implemented with the support of UNICEF, 2005. In 2007, Armenia became an associate member of the European HBSC network. In 2010 the full-scale HBSC study was conducted under the support of the State Committee of Science and UNICEF; the survey covered more than 4000 schoolchildren from all regions of Armenia.
OUR PARTNERS:
Since 2003, ICAH has collaborated with the Ministry of Health of Armenia, the Ministry of Education and Science, Regional health authorities and health institutions; International organizations including WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, Mission East, World Vision, Children of Armenia Fund, Jinishyan Memorial Foundation, USAID etc.
Our Staff
Sergey Sargsyan, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Director, Republican Methodological Center for Child Health Protection
Nune Aleksanyan, MD, Assistant to Director, Republican Methodological Center for Child Health Protection
Eva Movsesyan, MD, Coordinator for Child and Adolescent Health and Development projects
Marina Melkumova, MD, Coordinator for Adolescent Health projects
Anna Poghosyan, MD, Telemedicine project responsible doctor
CONTACTS:
Arabkir Joint Medical Centre & Institute of Child and Adolescent Health
Address: 30 Mamikoniants str., 0014, Yerevan, Armenia
Phone: (37410) 23 60 30, 23 60 56 / 11 -45, 22-08, 10-44
Fax: (37410) 28 41 70
URL: www.arabkirjmc.am icah
E-mail: sargsyans@dolphin.am, icah@arminco.com
