In Armenia 14 children out of 1000 living in wealthy families die, while in poor families 41 children die out of 1000.

In August 26-27 in Tsakhkadzor World Vision Armenia organized two-day meeting/discussion “The role of NGOs in the process of mother and child health issues” in the framework of “Child Health Now” campaign. Around 25 armenian NGOs, a group of journalists, as well as representatives from Health Ministry and National Assembly participated in the meeting.

 In the framework of UN Mother and Child Health strategy drafting process WV Armenia has launched “Child Health Now” five-year health campaign. “This campaign is a means to enable the Armenian NGOs to bring mother and child issues to the attention of decision makers”,-said WV Armenia TST manager Susanna Bagratuni.

In the framework of the campaign it is envisaged to urge appropriate state agencies to increase health sector financing, to evenly distribute health specialists through Armenian regions, to develop and invest mother and child health services monitoring system, to enlarge campaigns aimed at the increase of society’s awareness of mother and child health care issues.

During the meeting the participants discussed problems and obstacles concerning the decrease of the child and maternal death rate. “Civil society and with its components should play a significant role in making effective changes in maternal and child care issues through developing innovative approaches, public education and community mobilization”, emphasized Naira Gharakhanyan, CHN campaign manager. Karine Saribekyan, the manager of the Health Ministry’s Mother and Child department added, “NGOs may help to implement campaigns in the national level and work very effectively at the community level”.

The seminar was closed with the discussion of future activities. A letter content was developed, to be send to the Government and National Assembly. During the upcoming months a research will be conducted on maternal and child health situation in Armenia. Its results will be published and publicly discussed.