Purple Day

About health

For specialists

Purple Day
26 March 24

Today, March 26, is Purple day, also known as Epilepsy Awareness Day.

This day was initiated by nine-year-old Cassidy Megan, who wrote a letter sharing her experience of living with epilepsy. She encouraged people to see epilepsy not as a sentence, but as a condition to live with, just like any other.

Epilepsy affects 65 million people worldwide, with the causes remaining unknown in 50% of cases. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, nationality, or social status.

In Armenia, many children with epilepsy receive care at the Department of Neurology and Epileptology of the "Arabkir" Medical Center. Our dedicated team of specialists strives to provide the best possible care, staying up-to-date with modern medical advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and surgery.

Here are some simple tips from Ani Gevorgyan, the head of the Neurology Department at the "Arabkir" Medical Center, on what to do and not to do if you witness someone having an epileptic seizure.

Stay calm and start timing the seizure.
Remove any sharp and dangerous objects near the person.
Turn them on their side.
Place something soft under their head.
Loosen any tight clothing around their neck and keep the airway clear.
Call an ambulance.
If they have food or fluid in their mouth, remove it after the seizure is over.
Do not try to open their mouth.
Do not put anything in the person’s mouth.
Do not give them food, water or pills.

Stay with the person until the seizure stops or medical help has arrived. Most seizures last for minutes.

Last news

Նոյեմբերի 14-ը շաքարախտի դեմ պայքարի համաշխարհային օրն է

Ի պատիվ կանադացի գիտնականի` 2007 թվականից նրա ծննդյան օրը հռչակվեց որպես շաքարախտի դեմ պայքարի համաշխարհային օր: Գիտնականը, առաջին անգամ ինսուլին ներարկելով, փրկել էր 14-ամյա տղայի կյանքը։ Շաքարախտի վերաբերյալ մարդկանց հուզող հարցերը շատ են: Տարածված մտահոգություններին անդրադարձել է «Արաբկիր» բժշկական համալիրի էնդոկրինոլոգիական ծառայության ղեկավար Իրինա Մարությանը:Մրգերի շաքարը նույնքան վնասակա՞ր է, որքան սպիտակ շաքարը:Ո՜չ, սպիտակ շաքարը ավելի վնասակար է, քանի որ մրգի շաքարը հիմնականում ֆրուկտոզա է: Եթե չափով օգտագործենք ճիշտ ժամերին` ըստ ինսուլինի ազդեցության, վնասակարությունը էականորեն կնվազի:Ճի՞շտ է, որ շաքարախտը միայն ավել քաշ ունեցող մարդկանց մոտ է ախտորոշվում:Ո՜չ։ Մենք տարբերում ենք դիաբետի երկու տիպեր` առաջին և երկրորդ։ Առաջինը հանդիպում է երեխաների մոտ։ Դա աուտոիմուն խնդիր է։ Ինչ խոսք, ցանկալի է, որ ավել քաշ չունենան, բայց այս պարագայում քաշը որևէ նպաստող գործոն չէ հիվանդության առաջացման համար։ Երկրորդ տիպի պարագայում հավելյալ քաշը մեծացնում է առաջացման հավանականության ռիսկը։Դիաբետը չի բուժվում, բայց կարո՞ղ է լիովին վերահսկվել:Այո՜, այն բուժելի չէ, բայց կարելի է լիովին վերահսկել:Արդյոք սթրեսը բարձրացնում է արյան շաքարը:Շաքարախտ ունեցող մարդկանց մոտ սթրեսը կարող է բարձրացնել արյան մեջ գլյուկոզայի մակարդակը և վատացնել շաքարախտի ընթացքը:Էնդոկրինոլոգ Իրինա Մարությանը հորդորում է հետևել մարմնի քաշին, ֆիզիկական ակտիվությանը և օգտագործել առողջ սնունդ: Վաղ ախտորոշումը նպաստում է հիվանդության վարման արդյունավետությանը: Շաքարային դիաբետը ոչ թե հիվանդություն, այլ ապրելակերպ է:

When Work Becomes a Calling

Sergey Babloyan, urologist-surgeon at the Arabkir Medical Center, was a guest on the “Lav Bjishk” (“Good Doctor”) podcast, where he spoke about his decision to become a doctor, his first surgery, the influence of his father, Professor Ara Babloyan, kidney transplantation, and the balance between life and work.

November 12 — World Pneumonia Day

To raise public awareness about pneumonia, Gevorg Boyajyan, Head of the Pulmonology and Pediatrics Department of the Arabkir Medical Center, answers common questions asked by parents.Does pneumonia occur only in winter? No. Severe cases of pneumonia can also occur in summer — and in some cases, may even be more severe than those seen in winter.Do children with pneumonia always have a fever? One of the main signs of pneumonia is a high fever lasting three days or more. In 97% of cases, an elevated temperature is present. The belief that a temperature of 37.2°C is “a pneumonia temperature” is incorrect.Is treatment less effective when managed at home? According to international guidelines, many children can be safely and effectively treated for pneumonia at home, as long as they do not have any signs of severe illness.Does vaccination fully protect against pneumonia? Pneumococcal vaccination significantly reduces the likelihood of developing pneumonia and also makes the disease milder if a child does become ill.Is pneumonia a contagious disease? The contagiousness of pneumonia is very low.To reduce the risk of the disease, Dr. Boyajyan emphasizes the importance of a healthy lifestyle, timely vaccination, and dressing children appropriately to avoid overheating. He also highlights the role of proper nutrition and strongly advises against smoking in the presence of a child. Cigarette smoke damages a child’s airways, making them more susceptible to infections.

Marine Grigoryan Awarded Certificate of Professional Excellence by the Open Medical Institute

On October 19–25, 2025, an international seminar on pediatric radiology was held in Salzburg, Austria — an event that takes place once every four years. Marine Grigoryan, Head of the Diagnostic Imaging Service at Arabkir Medical Center, and radiologist Ani Sargsyan presented to the international medical community rare congenital pathologies encountered in their practice — cases so uncommon that they occur in only one person out of a million. The professional team of Arabkir Medical Center shared their analyses and experience in diagnosing and managing such rare conditions. During the seminar, Marine Grigoryan was awarded a Certificate of Professional Excellence by the Open Medical Institute. “This is the result of teamwork,” noted Marine Grigoryan. “The support and encouragement of the team play a major role in the professional growth and development of each individual. This success once again proves that we should never stop at what we’ve achieved — we must continue learning, improving, and seizing every opportunity to gain new knowledge in service of children’s health.” The achievements recognized on international platforms demonstrate that pediatric medicine in Armenia continues to develop in line with global scientific standards.

International Day of Radiology

130 years ago, on this very day — November 8 — a German scientist discovered X-rays. In 2012, several international organizations declared November 8 as International Day of Radiology to honor this groundbreaking discovery. This day is another opportunity to express our gratitude to all radiology specialists who, with their knowledge, responsibility, experience, and dedication, make accurate diagnoses and contribute to saving lives every single day. We warmly congratulate all radiologists on their professional holiday and wish them continued scientific and professional success!

Work Continues on the Implementation of the Organ and Tissue Transplant Program from Deceased Donors

At the invitation of the Arabkir Medical Center, doctors from Great Britain are visiting Armenia: Professor Nizam Mamode, a transplant surgeon, and Benjamin Ivory, an anesthesiologist and intensive care specialist, who also heads the UK’s national organ transplant education system. A meeting was held at the Arabkir Medical Center between leading British and Armenian specialists to discuss the procedures for diagnosing brain death, training models, and organizational aspects of the program. On November 4, the British specialists will meet with Anahit Avanesyan, Minister of Health of the Republic of Armenia. Two working groups have been established under the Ministry of Health to focus on brain death diagnosis and the transplantation of organs and tissues from deceased donors. UK experts will collaborate with Armenian specialists to support the development and implementation of this new system. As part of the visit, additional discussions on organ transplantation are scheduled for November 6 at the Arabkir Medical Center.