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This five year program is part of a major financing arrangement led by Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) around the world and will commence in Armenia in 2011.

“At a time when the global economic crisis has pushed over 100 million people back into poverty, we feel that immunization remains a crucial safety net program for mothers and children in Armenia. These investments are not just a temporary relief, but are investments in long term human capital for Armenia. Every child that one day will form the future of Armenian society will be affected by this program,” says Raffy Ardhaldjian, Chief Volunteer Officer of The Ani & Narod Memorial Foundation (ANMF).

“Once again, we are delighted to assist the Ministry of Health of Armenia in making history, raising the standards of health in Armenia, and partnering with them in the introduction of the Pentavalent vaccine to complement GAVI’s efforts.”

According to GAVI, the Pentavalent Vaccine protects against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, and Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib). The World Health Organization (WHO), accounts that HiB disease, primarily pneumonia and meningitis in young children is a significant public health concern in many parts of the world where large scale HiB immunization has not yet been implemented.

In order to fight the potential deadly effects of Hib and the four other potential killers, and considering the proven efficacy and effectiveness of the Pentavalent vaccine, GAVI will be offering WHO’s recommended five-in-one vaccine composition to the Ministry of Health of Armenia (MoH). With the financial support of GAVI and a co-financing involvement of MACVF and the Government of Armenia, the MoH will distribute the Pentavalent vaccine through its routine National Immunization Program (NIP).

“With only one visit to the polyclinic, children will be able to receive five vaccines in one application thus reducing the psychological fear and pain factor that children associate with vaccination,” says Gayane Sahakyan, Manager of the NIP of Armenia and State Hygiene and Anti-Epidemic Inspectorate.

“This is a logical and beneficial addition to our NIP and we are very pleased that, once again, MACVF is lending its financial support to our programs.”

MACVF’s past contributions include a joint effort with UNICEF, the MoH, and the Rostropovich Foundation, to eliminate measles, mumps, and congenital rubella. This effort included a mass immunization campaign of approximately 924,000 individuals. Additionally MACVF was instrumental in its long lasting support to the MoH by financing routine, life-saving immunization vaccines which has enabled the immunization of thousands of children in Armenia since the inception of the program.

MACVF has been and continues to be vital in introducing life-saving vaccines for the NIP’s regular vaccination programs. Adding the Pentavalent vaccine to the NIP, will compliment Armenia’s public health achievements since independence and be part of GAVI’s global effort to prevent 1 million deaths until the year 2015.

Millennium Armenian Children’s Vaccine Fund (MACVF) is one of the primary programs of the Ani & Narod Memorial Foundation. Established in 1994, ANMF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt US organization encouraging the welfare and development of Armenian women and children through innovative cultural, educational, health and social programs.

MACVF is a public-private capital fund incubated around the year 2000 in partnership with international agencies including UNICEF, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and various constituents of the Armenian Diaspora, to ensure a steady stream of income to finance vaccines for Armenia’s NIP. ANMF was established in 1994 in loving memory of Ani and Narod Ardhaldjian (visit www.ani.org).

The GAVI Alliance is a public- private partnership focused on saving children’s lives and protecting people’s health by increasing access to immunization in poor countries.

The National Immunization Program of Armenia is carried out by the Communicable Diseases, State Hygiene and Anti-Epidemic Inspectorate of the Ministry of Health. NIP unites and coordinates institutions, resources, and activities, which promote the reduction of morbidity, disability, and mortality as a result of manageable infections. This large- scale program is also responsible for the procurement and distribution of vaccines to polyclinics and health institutions throughout the country. According to the WHO, the NIP of the MoH of Armenia has retained high coverage rates for its vaccination programs.

Source: Armenian Reporter

Mark Geragos, an Armenian-American prominent trial attorney was one of four lawyers in a federal class action lawsuit against New York Life Insurance for policies for victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 in which 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered by Ottoman Turks.

The gift from Mark Geragos’s firm demonstrates the growing support for the MACVF children’s immunization campaign, which has brought together an impressive network of donors in the Armenian Diaspora, health experts and advisors dedicated to strengthening the National Immunization Program of Armenia. “Mark Geragos understands the challenges faced by Armenia’s children and we greatly appreciate his contribution toward securing life-saving vaccines” stated Raffy Ardhaldjian, chairman of the Ani & Narod Memorial Foundation, the organization spearheading the Armenian children’s immunization activities.

Mr. Geragos is an active member of the large Armenian community of Los Angeles and serves on the advisory committee of Birthright Armenia. He’s also a chairman of Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and a member of the Armenia Fund International board of trustees.

Besides providing funds towards Armenia’s national immunization program since the turn of the century, the MACVF – as part of a large consortium of public health

donors- has in 2007 October actively participated in Measles and Rubella mass immunization campaign providing financial, logistical, and technical support. The mass immunization campaign against measles and rubella targeted all individuals aged 6 – 27 years, a total of approximately 1.2 million people.

Source: Public Radio of Armenia

On March 29, the UNDP delegation traveled to the United Arab Emirates for a series of gatherings and roundtable discussions.

First on the agenda was a meeting with a group of Armenian students in Sharjah, held at the hall of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church. During her presentation here, Ms. Vidal urged the youth to place its diverse talents at the service of Armenia’s economic progress and continued democratization, by taking an active role in various development programs. The event was also attended by Mr. Kurkjian and Mr. Raffy Ardhaldjian, chief volunteer officer of the Millennium Children’s Vaccine Fund (MCVF) and chairman of the Ani and Narod Memorial Foundation.

Mr. Ardhaldjian strongly endorsed the UNDP’s “Global Armenia” initiative and congratulated the organization for its diverse Armenian-development portfolio. “I am delighted to support the United Nations not only for its innovative and extremely well-designed programs, but the essential fact that it treats transparency and accountability as foremost priorities,” he said.

The meeting was followed by a dinner with local Armenian community leaders including members of the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church Council.

On March 30, the last day of the UNDP delegation’s tour, a meeting with Dubai-Armenian business leaders was held at the conference hall of Dubai’s Al Bustan Hotel. The gathering was organized by Mr. Bob Parseghian of Dubai. In her address, Ms. Vidal likened the vibrancy of the local Armenian community to the dynamic economic path of Dubai itself, and invited the guests to apply their entrepreneurial vision to a long-term partnership with the UNDP.

“Our programs in Armenia are designed to create economic opportunity but also foster community-based development,” Ms. Vidal said. “This is a modality of development that ensures the well-being of Armenian society across the republic – in terms of education, vocational training, healthcare, employment, and environmental protection. We have been able to make strides in Armenia precisely because of the inclusive nature of our work, securing the collaboration of the government, private sector, international organizations, and, most importantly, the people of Armenia. I now urge you to join this wonderful process, both as individuals and a community.”

Throughout its tour in the Middle East, the UNDP delegation demonstrated its appreciation for its hosts by presenting them with handmade certificate-mementos. Created by Yerevan artist Ararat Sarkissian, the certificates feature the UN emblem and letters culled from the world’s alphabets, in celebration of the “Global Armenia” initiative and conveying the UN’s ongoing role in the advancement of humanity as a whole.

Source: United Nations Development Programme

Mark Geragos, a prominent Armenian-American trial attorney was one of four lawyers in a federal class action lawsuit against New York Life Insurance for policies for victims of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 in which 1.5 million Armenia’s were slaughtered by Ottoman Turks.

The gift from Mark Geragos’ firm demonstrates the growing support for the MACVF children’s immunization campaign, which has brought together an impressive network of donors in the Armenian Diaspora, health experts and advisors dedicated to strengthening the National Immunization Program of Armenia. “Mark Geragos understands the challenges faced by Armenia’s children and we greatly appreciate his contribution toward securing life-saving vaccines” stated Raffy Ardhaldjian, chairman of the Ani & Narod Memorial Foundation, the organization spearheading the Armenian children’s immunization activities.

Geragos is an active member of the large Armenian community of Los Angeles and serves on the advisory committee of Birthright Armenia. He’s also a chairman of Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, and a member of the Armenia Fund International board of trustees.

Aside from providing funds towards Armenia’s national immunization program since the turn of the century, the MACVF ’s as part of a large consortium of public health donors- has in 2007 October actively participated in Measles and Rubella mass immunization campaign providing financial, logistical, and technical support. The mass immunization campaign against measles and rubella targeted all individuals aged 6 ’s 27 years, a total of approximately 1.2 million people.

Established in 2001, MACVF is a public-private capital fund administered by the Ani and Narod Memorial Foundation (ANMF) in partnership with international agencies including UNICEF, WHO, and USAID, as well as the RA Ministry of Health. MACVF is committed to securing financial capital for the procurement of vaccines during the next decade, and helping build Armenia’s human capital of healthcare workers, thus safeguarding the well-being of several generations of Armenia’s.

Source: Azbarez

Yerevan, Armenia – A mass campaign to eliminate measles and rubella is the Millennium Armenian Children’s Vaccine Fund’s (MACVF) best long-term hope for controlling measles and rubella epidemics in Armenia. Measles is the greatest vaccine-preventable killer of children in the world today and the eighth leading cause of death among people of all ages worldwide. However, immunization mass campaigns are proven to be an effective solution for preventing such deadly diseases. At the same time, initiating such ambitious projects usually becomes a difficult financial challenge.

“We have been frustrated by the slow pace of access to modern vaccines in Armenia during this new millenium, yet breakthroughs are achievable if we aggressively pursue partnership and work together in new ways” says Raffy Ardhaldjian, the Chief Volunteer Officer of the MACVF.

Despite its routine measles-immunization efforts in recent decades, Armenia remains in the list of countries susceptible to measles outbreaks, which strike between 30 and 40 million children every year and result in some 9 million deaths internationally. These statistics indicate that near 100 percent immunization coverage must be maintained at all times to fight this highly contagious disease. This makes even more critical the need for an integrated community approach involving a variety of stakeholders.

To support the Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA) planned for October of 2007, MACVF has been able to secure $180 000 for MR (measles and rubella) vaccine procurement. A one-time grant of $100,000 has been generously donated by the mobile telecommunications company VivaCell. Additional $60 000 has been pledged by another US-based organization – Fighting Infectious Diseases in Emerging Countries (FIDEC). The pledged funds will be raised this summer from Armenian Diaspora in Argentine.

“Our first meeting with the MACVF has opened the gate to explore the possibility of synergizing our efforts in the field of immunization in Armenia” says Daniel Stamboulian, the Chairman of FIDEC.

For the success of the campaign, as Mr. Stamboulian suggests, it is very important to help the National Immunization Programme in Armenia to educate both medical professionals and general population on importance of immunization. The main target should be children at schools and through them their families and educators.

The impact of the mass Measles and Rubella immunization campaign will significantly advance the health and well-being of children, young adults, and young mothers in Armenia.

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Established in 2001, MACVF is a public-private capital fund administered by the Ani and Narod Memorial Foundation (ANMF) in partnership with international agencies including UNICEF, WHO, and USAID, as well as the RA Ministry of Health. MACVF is committed to securing financial capital for the procurement of vaccines during the next decade, and helping build Armenia’s human capital of healthcare workers, thus safeguarding the well-being of several generations of Armenians.

FIDEC is a U.S.-based, nonprofit organization that provides resources to health care programs fighting infectious diseases in emerging countries. It is made up of physicians, scientists and other health care professionals. Last years FIDEC started working in Armenia to improve different health care sectors. With their knowledge and experience in the field of infectious diseases, FIDEC has been providing valuable resources to Armenian health care professionals to raise the quality of health care in local communities. FIDEC also has supported the creation, building, and organization of an Infectious Disease Unit at the Pediatric Hospital in Yerevan.

Vivacell is the leading Armenian mobile operator, providing a wide range of Voice and Data services. Since its launch on 1st of July 2005, in a short period of time VivaCell has managed to build a nationwide network and a considerable customer base. VivaCell drives the development and offering of innovative mobile communications products, services and features in the Armenian mobile communications market.

Source: Aztag

MACVF–with the cooperation of UNICEF–USAID–The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations–and the Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Health–currently provides seven basic vaccines–Diphtheria–Hepatitis B–MMR (Measles–Mumps–Rubella)–Polio–Pertussis (whooping cough)–Tetanus–and Tuberculosis–to all of the approximately 37,000 children born in Armenia each year.

The threat of an avian influenza pandemic in Karabagh caused great alarm amongst health administrators. “We cannot afford a disruption in the health and economy of this vital region,” states Raffy Ardhaldjian–ANMF Chief Volunteer Officer–”We had to nip this potential epidemic in the bud.”

Training in Stepanakert–the capital of Karabagh–was initiated by ANMF/MACVF on March 27–with the Ministries of Education and Health along with the Hanganak NGO actively involved in the training of nurses and teachers from Stepanakert–Askeran–and Shushi. Frida Yeritsyan from Armenia’s National Institute of Education trained the participants on innovative and effective methods for working with children to avoid the spread of the avian flu. Representatives from the MKR Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Emergency Situations were invited to answer specific questions of the trainees.

With the main objective to enhance public awareness on avian influenza preventive measures–ANMF organized reproduction and dissemination of informational materials in MKR: 2000 copies of two-sided leaflets–500 copies of posters for schools–and 800 copies of teacher’s manuals with the detailed description of new interactive methods for working with children.

Training was also conducted in the Martuni–Hadrut–Martakert and Lachin regions of Karabagh.

MACVF continues to strive toward its goal of immunizing 560,000 in Armenia within the next ten years. To learn more about the organization–visit www.ani.org.

Source: Azbarez

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Designed to increase awareness and generate greater interest in Armenian independent filmmakers, the prize was created by the Ardhaldjian family as a tribute honoring their beloved son and brother, Mark Sarkis Ardhaldjian, an aspiring filmmaker who passed away in 1995, at the tender age of 21. “While Mark’s talents were exceptional in our eyes, we are certain that there are many talented individuals of Armenian decent around the world waiting to be discovered. We thank the Golden Apricot Film Festival for providing us the opportunity to act on Mark’s passion,” explained Raffy Ardhaldjian, Mark’s brother and chief volunteer officer of ANMF.

Judged by a distinguished jury, the $2000 cash prize was awarded to the winner of the Armenian Panorama category. Under the Open Sky, a film by Arman Yeritzyan, portrays the life of two Russian citizens who coincidently arrive in Yerevan. They eventually marry and lead a life of homelessness, but none of it matters to them since they are “Soviet Citizens”. This film had also the honor of receiving a major prize at the Youth International Film Festival “Yes Em”, Yerevan Armenia, May 2005. Mr. Yeritzyan (born in 1975, Yerevan) has graduated from the Directing Department of Yerevan Pedagogical Insititute. His other works include: End (2003), I Want to Say (2004).

“We have been able to fulfill our expectations with the help of our sponsors and support from our government. The festival all of a sudden took flight and grabbed attention from all over the world. Among our participants included Atom Egoyan, Robert Guediguian, Arsinee Khanjian, Abbas Kiarostami, Simon Abkarian, and others. We had twice as many participants this year than from last year competing in the festival; about 140 films from 36 countries. Our success would have been impossible if not for the support we had received from Armenian and Diasporian organizations such as the Ani & Narod Memorial Fund, who donated $2000 under the title of Mark-Sarkis Grand Prix,” states Susanna Harutyunyan, Artistic Director of the Festival.

In its second year, the Golden Apricot was held in Yerevan from July 12-17, 2005. Highlighting features and documentaries produced from 2003 to 2005, the festival screened and judged works by a variety of directors and filmmakers from around the world.

For more information on the Yerevan International Film Festival, Golden Apricot, visit www.gaiff.am.

For more info on the Ani & Narod Memorial Foundation, please visit www.ani.org. For all press and media inquiries, contact Teni Melidonian at 626.644.7247 or via email at protocolprose@yahoo.com.

The Ani & Narod Memorial Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, tax-exempt US organization encouraging the welfare and development of Armenian women and children through innovative cultural, educational, health and social programs.