We got acquainted with the Armenian Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology, a sister organization to the Association of Healthcare and Assistance to Older People, in 2021, through Hambardzum Simonyan, Health Programs Director of the FAR, when we were looking for an institution that could provide training according to the needs of Hanganak NGO staff. Our initial acquaintance quickly grew into friendship, and a few months later we were invited to participate in the III International Congress of Geriatrics and Gerontology organized by them. And in early March 2022, the first training course for the Hanganak staff was held according to a specially developed program. It was decided that such trainings, aimed at developing the skills and knowledge of the staff, will be continuous, and the FAR undertakes to support all upcoming events.
The IV International Congress of Geriatrics and Gerontology was held on December 1-2, 2022 at the American University of Armenia. It has been organized by the initiative of the Association of Healthcare and Assistance to Older People, the Armenian Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology and with the support of the Fund for Armenian Relief. As in the previous year, the Congress impressed with its representativeness and scope. Renowned geriatricians, scientists, leading Armenian specialists, practicing doctors were invited.
Artur Torosyan, Founder and President of Armenian Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology, invited Gohar Hovhannisyan, President of Hanganak NGO, to the IV International Congress of Geriatrics and Gerontology, this time as a lecturer. On the one hand, it was a great honor for the organization, on the other hand, it was very responsible and obliging. At the same time, it is difficult to make a speech after scientists of such greatness, although 18 years of experience and knowledge undoubtedly give self-confidence.
The Congress had another pleasant surprise for Hanganak NGO. During the opening ceremony, Arno Hovhannisyan, Health Programs Coordinator of the FAR, presented the large-scale project sponsored by them: Support the development of Geriatrics and Gerontology in Armenia and Artsakh. And the fact that the FAR chose Hanganak NGO as a partner to implement that project in Artsakh is a great honor and appreciation.
Gohar Hovhannisyan’s speech was on the second day of the Congress, December 2. It briefly described the activities performed by the organization and the psychological support launched in January 2022 as part of the Elderly Project. Besides the psychological services, a psycho-diagnostic assessment was conducted among the beneficiaries, the preliminary results of which were presented in the report.
Below you can find the full report and the presentation.
Slides for Presentaion
Read the full report here
At the end of the presentation, with the permission of the organizers, a video about the activities of “Hanganak” NGO, filmed by the Artsakh Public TV Company, was shown.
After the report, the participants of the Congress came up and congratulated G. Hovhannisyan. In the coming days, she was invited for an interview at one of the local radio studios to talk about the organization’s mission and problems.
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