Humanitarian Assistance Program for Nagorno Karabakh: Primary Health Care Trainings

The Center for Health services Research and Development (AUA/CHSR) organized the health-oriented training program as part of the United States Agency of International Development funded Humanitarian Assistance Program for Nagorno Karabagh that was led implemented by the Fund for Armenian Relief.  It helped to ensure that the people of Nagorno Karabagh (NK) receive timely and effective primary care, emphasizing the most common conditions that threaten their well-being.

The comprehensive health training program addressed integrated management of childhood illnesses (IMCI); management of adult diseases (ADM); and health promotion/patient counseling skills (PCS).  The IMCI training addressed the most common conditions affecting children: respiratory infections, diarrhea, nutritional problems, anemia, prophylaxis of intestinal worms, burns and traumas, skin diseases, and ear and throat infections.  ADM training addressed diagnosis and treatment of the most common conditions affecting adults: respiratory infections, cardiac diseases, urinary tract infections, skin diseases, burns and traumas, and gastro-intestinal diseases.  The patient counseling skills training enabled health professionals to effectively communicate with, educate, and motivate patients and community members in healthy habits and management of their illnesses.

In 2006, 265 nurses and 35 doctors throughout NK completed basic first aid and emergency skills training by the Armenian Red Cross Society.  By 2007, 86 nurses/feldshers and 10 doctors had completed the clinical IMCI training.  From May-November 2007, AUA/CHSR team trained nearly 150 providers on ADM, and over 250 providers in patient counseling and health communication skills.
In 2008, nearly 600 villagers from 32 villages were trained in community-IMCI to promote healthy lifestyles and to encourage caregivers to seek appropriate medical care when necessary.
The AUA/CHSR team was led by Drs. Michael Thompson and Alina Dorian.  They were supported by experts such as Dr. Ara Tekian from the University of Illinois at Chicago, Dr. Sonia Arushanyan, Armenia’s IMCI expert, Dr. Aram Kaligian, a family physician from Boston, and a dedicated cadre of local trainers and professional staff.
These training programs, designed to meet international standards and conform to local needs and resources, help ensure that the people of Nagorno Karabagh receive timely and effective primary care, emphasizing the most common conditions that threaten their well-being.