The opening ceremony of Howard Karagheusian MBPO's newly established building in Gyumri, Shirak region
On November 5th, in Gyumri, Shirak region, the newly built center of Howard Karagheusian MBPO opened its doors to the public.
Following the establishment of the third Republic of Armenia, the New York-based Karagheusian Foundation founded the Howard Karagheusian Medical Benevolent Public Organization in Yerevan, Armenia.
In the Shirak region, the organization has been trusted and valued by locals since the opening of its presence there in 1995. Through these years, the professionals here treated about 64000 dental and 8000 ophthalmic cases from the central city and the villages in the region.
The specialists of Howard Karagheusian MBPO regularly undergo professional training; meanwhile, in the USA, an existing advisory council participates in communicating the world’s best innovations and transferring their application skills related to pediatric dentistry, constantly increasing the professional abilities of doctors.
At the opening ceremony of the new building, the Managing Director of the Karagheusian Foundation, Irina Lazaryan, in her remarks, mentioned that the Foundation prioritized the new building in Gyumri after the devastating earthquake in this city in 1988. Ms. Lazaryan added, “While building, we were determined to use local resources and talents” and noted that “the organization needed a new building to provide the existing services in a better way.” Today, this building, which symbolizes the family’s wishes and vision, is the first one that the 100-year-old Foundation built for itself.
The Karagheusian family decided to create a Foundation in the name of their untimely lost son, which has been operating for the benefit of Armenian children for a century. Since 1921, the Foundation has wrapped hundreds of thousands of children with love and care, implementing various charitable programs for Armenian children worldwide.
The services and building construction were fully financed by the Karagheusian Foundation, whose vision is to assist Howard Karagheusian MBPO in becoming a center of excellence for medical and social services. The building is beautiful, solid, and equipped with the latest dental equipment, some of which were donated by the Canada-based Rotary Sydney Sunrise Club.
During the opening ceremony, the new logo, and the new website of the organization, which encapsulate the philosophy of the organization, “Children First,” were presented to the public.
The comprehensive and extensive possibilities of the center built here will help to change the way of life and world perception of the children living in the region, which is written as the organization’s mission to provide children with free high-quality medical and social services, thereby contributing to their happy integration into society.
Armenian residents Roza Martirosyan and Suzanna Grigoryan used to be beneficiaries of the center years ago when they were children. Today, their generation is already bringing their children to the center.
“I remembered the doctor’s kind and caring attitude. My memories helped me make the right decision. I brought my son to this medical center. I have another son; I will bring him here too so that both of my children will have healthy teeth like mine,” says Martirosyan.
Howard Karagheusian MBPO was founded in Yerevan (Armenia) in 1992 with the support of the Karagheusian Foundation (New York, USA). Currently, Howard Karagheusian MBPO implements medical and social programs in Armenia and Artsakh. Through 30 years of its existence, the organization has prospered through its five regional centers in Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, Goris, and Stepanakert (Artsakh). These centers provide about 50,000 children annually with free primary dental and ophthalmic care and social services. The mission is to provide children with free high-quality medical and social services, thereby contributing to their social integration.
