The Ministry of Health, the Armenian EyeCare Project and WDF are embarking on the third phase of the national diabetes management and prevention programme in Armenia – the result of an eight-year partnership and a collective commitment to transform diabetes care in the country.
31 May 2024 Ayan Musa Ahmed
This spring, WDF visited the country to celebrate the launch of Armenia’s National Diabetes Strategy Realization and Blindness Prevention (WDF23-1926), which marks the third phase of our collaboration with the Armenian EyeCare Project (AECP).
‘Working with WDF has introduced us to healthcare advocacy and decision-making aspects’, says Varvara Kalashyan, AECP's Deputy Director and Operations Manager, emphasising the impact of WDF’s support over the years. Previous phases have focused on preventing blindness from diabetic retinopathy (DR) and developing a national diabetes mellitus strategy.
The project's achievements offer lessons for others working to bring diabetes eye care to under-served populations
The project's achievements offer lessons for others working to bring diabetes eye care to under-served populations.
AECP’s involvement has been crucial in shaping health policies and advancing patient care nationally, owing to a deep commitment to their work and the patients’ well-being. The non-profit organisation has been playing a key role in building and strengthening the national eye care system in Armenia, keeping a keen focus on socially vulnerable populations in regions with limited access to care.
The new joint initiative seeks to support the Ministry of Health in Armenia (MoH) in implementing the national diabetes strategy for 2022-2026 by integrating diabetes care at the primary level and strengthening referral pathways to specialised care.
‘The collaboration has been very effective. It was particularly important that we established the national diabetes management and an action plan, and with this new program, we will be able to implement a series of key interventions together’, adds Nora Pahlevanyan, Head of the Medical Aid Policy Department of the Armenian MoH, during our visit.
The partnership has also extended its support to neighbouring countries and established a regional training hub for advanced diabetes eye care.
One of the key advancements in recent years of partnership with AECP is the use of advanced technology, such as artificial intelligence grading, at the primary level, which positions the project as a potential model for other regions as well.
‘We have introduced innovative solutions such as artificial intelligence for eye diagnostics, creating an online data collection and analysis platform, and using mobile devices for glycated haemoglobin testing’, explains Nune Yeghiazaryan, AECP’s In-Country Director.
‘Starting this year, we will implement the first diabetic foot screening program in Armenia, along with a systematised approach to creating diabetes schools and more’.
During our visit, the WDF team had the opportunity to see a clinic in the Armavir region and the AECP Mobile Eye Hospital (MEH), to familiarise with several critical components of the programme. At the hospital, patients with eye issues undergo advanced diagnostic tests and receive laser and surgical treatments.
’Witnessing the transformative impact of our joint initiative with AECP and the Ministry of Health has been truly inspiring. The dedication and innovation we have seen here, from having a Mobile Eye Hospital to using AI in diagnostics, is a testament to what can be achieved when we work together.’ reflects Kirza Buch Kristensen, WDF’s Head of Strategy and Business Development.
The collaboration has been notably successful in surpassing its targets and improving diabetes service delivery across the country. It has not only enhanced eye care services and strengthened primary diabetes care but also significantly improved the lives of those with diabetes. People like Larisa Hovhannysian.
Larisa has been diligently managing her diabetes for 15 years, utilising insulin and maintaining careful eating habits to stabilise her condition. Living 20 kilometres from Armavir, she usually receives care at a local facility in her village. During one of these routine visits, she met a specialised team from the ACEP Mobile Eye Hospital.
The team diagnosed Larisa with diabetes retinopathy, a severe complication of diabetes that can lead to significant vision impairment if left untreated. Larisa was then scheduled to discuss and plan her necessary laser treatment. On the day of her appointment, she arrived at the MEH, ready to take the next steps.
She reflects on the proactive and accessible care she received. ’I’m glad that my condition was discovered so that I could begin planning for treatment almost immediately. I can continue working in the fields; I work with agriculture and feel healthy and strong enough to continue.’
Other patients share Larisa’s sentiment. ’I want the world to know about AECP, the way they work—it’s not that the patient finds the doctor, but the doctor finds the patients’, remarks Valya Ghazaryan, who underwent cataract surgery, allowing her to return to work as a teacher.
Yeranuhi Nazaryan is on the other side of this exchange. She is the one providing care, and she has been doing so for the past two decades. She was also the first nurse to participate in a vitreo-retinal surgery, at one of the leading eye hospitals in Armenia.
Over the years, Yeranuhi has noticed a significant increase in public awareness of eye-related health issues, particularly diabetes retinopathy. ‘I sense that people know about and seek out the AECP Mobile Eye Hospital’, she reflects.
This awareness is crucial for early detection and treatment, which can dramatically improve patient outcomes. In addition to her clinical duties, Yeranuhi plays a vital role in training surgical nurses at regional centres, ensuring that high standards of care are maintained throughout the country.
‘The third phase of our partnership with AECP is strengthening the public health system’s capacity to deliver care, creating referral mechanisms and collaborating closely with MoH to elevate the whole continuum of care for people with diabetes in Armenia’, says Mette Skar, WDF’s Senior Programme Manager.
‘The impact of this work is remarkable: both for the person with diabetes who receives care at her doorstep and for society, which will see reduced costs related to reduced morbidity’.
Given the recent influx of 100,000 refugees to Armenia, the partnership will ensure the inclusion of refugees in all interventions.
By 2027, the new programme supported by WDF in Armenia aims to:
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AECP receives $780,000 grant from World Diabetes Foundation to combat diabetes complications in Armenia