For Immediate Release
May 31, 2005

ARMENIA FUND USA AND MEDICAL MISSIONS FOR CHILDREN EXPAND HEALTHCARE OPTIONS FOR ARMENIAN CHILDREN

Partnership Will Bring Medical Education and Specialized Health Services to Nagorno-Karabakh

PATERSON, NJ – Medical Missions for Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to elevating the quality of care for seriously ill children in underserved communities around the world, today announced that it is partnering with Armenia Fund USA to address the medical needs of Armenia’s sickest children and adults. With the additional participation of the Armenia and Nagorno-Karbakh Ministries of Health, the Armenia Society of Pediatrics and the Armenia Institute of Pediatric and Adolescent Health, Medical Missions for Children is laying the groundwork for the expansion of its Global Telemedicine & Teaching Network™ into this region of the Newly Independent States (NIS).

In conjunction with Armenia Fund USA’s newly-developed Armine Pagoumian Polyclinic in Stepanakert, Nagorno-Karabakh, Medical Missions for Children will implement a medical education program focused around the topics of pediatric cardiology, otolaryntology (ENT), oncology and orthopedics. Additionally, Medical Missions for Children will introduce remote diagnostics capabilities that will allow physicians in the U.S. to participate in the examination and diagnosis of pediatric illnesses related to the upper and lower respiratory system, ear, nose, throat and eye infections.

“Our expectation is that through Medical Missions for Children’s telemedicine and satellite technologies, we will create a gateway from Armenia to the 30 medical institutions that make up the mentoring component of our Global Telemedicine & Teaching Network,” said John Riehl, executive vice president, Medical Missions for Children. “It is this same strategy that proved to be very successful for Medical Missions for Children five years ago when it first established itself as a vital medical resource to physicians and children living in Latin America.”

Armenia Fund USA is spearheading the development of a new healthcare clinic, the Stepanakert Polyclinic and Diagnostic Center, located in the region’s capital. The existing healthcare facility in Stepanakert was partially destroyed in the war. The new polyclinic will be the first and only full care medical center in Nagorno-Karabakh. The facility is expected to be operational before the end of summer 2005. Besides fully equipping the clinic, Armenia Fund USA, under the direction of Dr. Alina Dorian, has been implementing an extensive training program for the past 18 months. This training includes all of the clinic’s staff, utilizing specialized training materials and staff from both the John Hopkins and UCLA facilities in the United States.

“The Global Telemedicine & Teaching Network facility, introduced by Medical Missions for Children to the Armine Pagoumian Polyclinic in Stepanakert, will greatly enhance the levels of service and technological sophistication the polyclinic will be able to provide to residents of Karabakh,” said Kevork Toroyan, chairman of Armenia Fund USA.

“We are excited to enhance and expand the medical services Armenia Fund USA is able to provide critically ill children in Armenia,” said Frank Brady, founder and chairman of the board, Medical Missions for Children. “Our relationship will help children who might not otherwise receive the treatment they desperately need. At the same time, we will provide access to additional medical education programming that is designed to enhance learning. This is a unique opportunity to partner with Armenia Fund USA and we are grateful for the support the group is providing.”

Medical Missions for Children and its Global Telemedicine & Teaching Network™ helps critically ill children in underserved communities around the world. Through an extensive videoconferencing network, Medical Missions for Children supports the real-time treatment of remote, critically ill children. In addition utilizing its fully FCC licensed broadcast station, WMMC, and expansive digital video library, transmits worldwide an on-going program of continuing medical education to physicians, nurses, medical students and hospital administrators.

The organization’s global network encompasses pediatric healthcare facilities in 36 medically underserved countries and the volunteer services of 26 tier-one U.S.-based and four international medical institutions. Since the organization was founded, more than 23,500 children have been helped. Medical Missions for Children continues to work toward its goal of touching the lives of over one million children each year.

About Medical Missions for Children

Medical Missions for Children (MMC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to elevating the care of catastrophically ill children in underserved U.S. and international communities. MMC created and manages its programs through the organization’s Global Telemedicine and Teaching Network™ (GTTN) – an interactive, satellite and Internet-based communications platform. The Global Telemedicine & Teaching Network™ supports the real-time treatment of remote, critically ill children, and through a fully FCC licensed broadcast station, WMMC, broadcasts worldwide an extensive program of continuing medical education. Medical Missions for Children is headquartered at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Paterson, NJ. Visit www.mmissions.org for additional information.

About Armenia Fund USA

Armenia Fund USA is dedicated to supporting large-scale, self-sustaining initiatives in both Armenia and Karabakh that are in social and political transition with tremendous potential for the future. The Fund is primarily focused on building sustainable infrastructure for the region through the development of roads, schools, medical facilities and utilities. Additionally, the Fund invests in humanitarian programs in education, training and healthcare. For more information, please visit www.armeniafundusa.org

ABOUT ARMENIA FUND USA: ARMENIA FUND USA, founded in 1992, was the first of Hayastan All-Armenian Fund’s 19 international affiliates and serves constituents in all states east of the Mississippi. As a non-profit, non-governmental, nonsectarian organization, the Fund represents all Armenian constituents.

Armenia Fund USA is the largest contributor among the 19 international affiliates – supporting strategic infrastructure projects in Armenia and Karabakh, and having helped build 138 miles of roads, 100 miles of waterways, 36 schools, 3 electric transmission networks, 210 residential buildings and 15 healthcare institutions.

Armenia Fund USA’s Mission is the development of strategic socio-economic infrastructure in Armenia and Karabakh, focusing on major projects such as major highways, schools, drinking water to communities and humanitarian programs in education, training and medical facilities. The Fund has adopted a policy to go “Beyond Bricks and Mortar” to provide sustainability for projects it sponsors.

To learn more about Armenia Fund USA, please visit our website at
www.ArmeniaFundUSA.org or call us at 212-689-5307.

Armenia Fund USA
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 301
New York, NY 10038