Apart from its water supply projects, SPFA (Protestant Solidarity France-Armenia) has been carrying out numerous jobs to give the population the means to recover from the earthquake in Gumri since 1990. We went for a visit across the town accompanied by Gagik Papikian and Lilith Haroutunian.


First step: the hospital for infectious disease in the Ani district. Karine Tonoyan, the director, greeted us in order to tell us about the actions led by SPFA in her hospital since 1997.

As well as installation of a drinking water supply for the hospital, SPFA contributed greatly to its renovation. From 1997 to 1998, the association financed and organised the replacement of 1,500 square metres of roofing (structure and roof covering). The patients could then be treated in a dry place. Then, the laboratory and the bathroom installations in the hospital were renovated. At last, in 2008, SPFA installed a heating system and replaced 150 windows. Beforehand, the team of doctors and nurses had to work with coats during the wintertime.


We continued our visit to the hospital Samariter where Raphael Katchatarian, the director, introduced us to the work carried out by SPFA.

In 2005, the association contributed to the installation of the haemodialysis unit, the only one in Gumri. Beforehand, patients had to go to Yerevan to be treated, and a lot of them could not go there through lack of money. Reminder: the haemodialysis is necessary for patients with kidney trouble (kidney transplants are forbidden in Armenia). Without it, their life expectancy is limited and they suffer a lot. A haemodialysis session lasts four hours, and has to be done three times a week.

In 2008, the association renovated and fitted out the cardiology and intensive care units. The association collects the necessary equipment in France, where the current standards limit the useful life of hospital machinery.

 

 



We then came to the brand new reception centre Pyunnick for disabled children. Beside it stood an old building in ruins: it is hard to believe it used to be the former reception centre. The day when Aram Khatachatarian brought Jacques Matossian in this centre did not leave the latter unmoved. Thanks to his work, the new building opened in 2007.

          The former building and the new building of the Pyunnick centre

The director of the Pyunnick centre, Armine Nikhogossian, welcomed us. At the time of the earthquake, she lost two children and both her legs. For more than ten years now, she has been using all her energy championing the integration of disabled children. Today, the centre welcomes 250 children in the best conditions. The only thing the director lacks is a minibus to pick them up. This service is actually provided by volunteers who have cars.



The following day, Gagik Papikian brought us to visit the centre Endanik. This large building welcomes 1,300 children for extracurricular activities. A second building is actually being renovated to increase the amount of accommodation. We were impressed by the equipment available for the children and by the quality of the work done. We thought we were mistaken by the translation and that it was in fact a professional school, but it was indeed a centre for children!

          Activities in the centre Endanik

The visit went on with the charity restaurant opened by SPFA in 1996. 160 retired and disabled people are welcomed there for lunchtime everyday. But because of the lack of money, the restaurant can only be open seven months a year. It was time for lunch and we were invited to share the meal.


How to help the association

The SPFA centre in Gumri specialises in the construction and renovation of infrastructures. The objective of the association is to provide equipment for which the maintenance and functioning have to be done by the local authorities afterwards. During our visits, we noticed the quality of the work done and of the equipment provided. The people we met showed their satisfaction and acknowledgement towards SPFA. To continue such projects, the association needs financing and medical equipment.

The association conducts, in parallel with development actions, humanitarian actions destined for more vulnerable people. To that end, the association is interested in donations of clothes and shoes.

Contacts

SPFA (Protestant Solidarity France Armenia)
1 rue Cabanis / 75014 Paris / France
E-mail : Paris@spfa-armenie.org
Website : www.spfa-armenie.org
Telephone : +33 1 47 35 30 23
Fax : +33 1 53 80 19 49

Gabrielle and François
(Translation: Yolene Dabreteau)