USAID AND ARMENIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH SIGN GRANT AGREEMENT ON HEALTH SYSTEMS REFORM IN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE SERVICES

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Yerevan, Armenia - On January 19, U.S. Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern, USAID Armenia Mission Director Jatinder Cheema, and Minister of Health Harutyun Kushkyan signed a two-year grant agreement for health systems reform, specifically to improve access to emergency medical care (EMS) services in Armenia. Representatives of the Armenian government and the U.S. Mission also attended the ceremony.

This two-year grant is part of the Health and Social Reform Assistance Agreement that USAID signed with the Armenian government in August 2010.

Ambassador Heffern said at the ceremony, “We are very excited about this grant. It’s important to our partnership with the Ministry, as this is the first time that we’ve been able to work out with the Armenian partner – the Armenian government – a direct grant to the Ministry [of Health].” The Ambassador noted that in addition to hardware and construction, cooperation in human and institutional capacity development is also needed for the health care system to work.

Dr. Cheema thanked the Minister for his leadership, noting that due to USAID’s partnership with the Ministry, women, children and men in Armenia have had better access to quality health care services. “Emergency medical services are an integral part of primary health care. If emergency staff don’t reach people on time, many people can die. And so this program will help improve the efficiency to get to people in times of need,” she said.

The goals of the “Improved Emergency Medical Care Services” project are to:
• Enhance public awareness of EMS reforms through the local media, non-governmental organizations, and professional associations;
• Improve the Ministry of Health’s capacity to monitor EMS services and to evaluate the overall impact of 2the EMS reform on Armenian public health;
• Provide technical expertise to the Ministry of Health (MOH) to finalize the country strategy for further development of Armenia’s Emergency Care Services based on international standards;
• Support continuous professional development of the MOH staff to sustain EMS reforms.

Minister Kushkyan recognized the Ministry’s active collaboration with USAID since 2001 and the implementation of important programs such as USAID’s Primary Health Care Reform (PHCR), NOVA (Innovations in Reproductive Health), and NOVA 2 projects. “The current [USAID-Abt Associates Inc.] HS-STAR project is aimed at Armenia’s health care system reform in such important areas as maternal and child health, tuberculosis, and primary health care development. Our partnership has always been productive and exigent, and we have marked practical successes,” he said, thanking the Ambassador, Dr. Cheema and the American people for the care and support that have allowed the Ministry to develop Armenia’s health care system to the benefit and improved health of the country’s population.