June 23, 2009 - 20:23 AMT
"Smile" medical project launched in Armenia
From June 20 till July 3, Armenia is implementing "Smile" medical project. 50-55 children and adults with such congenital disorders as cleft lip and cleft palate will undergo free rehabilitation surgery in Armenia, NKR and Javahk.

The program is implemented by "Smile" international organization in cooperation with RA Ministry of Health, "Arabkir" medical complex, "Arm in Arm" NGO (NKR), State Medical University, Armenian Evangelical, Gafestchyan Family and Hope for Town foundations, as well as benefactors Arthur Ispiryan and Madeleine Minasyan-Ispiryan.

During the upcoming 5 years, children and adults with cleft lip and palate will undergo surgery within project frameworks. In 2009, 55 individuals will benefit from the project.

"Those children, like all others, are born beautiful, but to make their beauty perfect they need an operation. Thanks to the surgery, whey will acquire the ability of smiling and finding new friends and new opportunities," RA Deputy Health Minister Tatul Hakobyan said. "We hope cooperation will continue in future, and the project will become on-going," he added.

Within project frameworks, a group of doctors from foreign countries will deliver lectures aimed at exchanging experience and raising qualification.