Seeking Solutions: Preserving the Lives of Peaceful Citizens

About health

For specialists

Seeking Solutions: Preserving the Lives of Peaceful Citizens
21 June 23

"I suggest exploring alternative means to resolve the issue and without endangering the lives of civilians". Ara Babloyan answered the questions of iravunk.com.

For the past 7 days, both the Russian peacekeepers and the Red Cross have been unable to deliver medicine and food to Stepanakert. Additionally, they cannot transport critical patients to Yerevan due to the closure of the Hakari checkpoint, which is closed by the Azerbaijani side for humanitarian cargo and passenger transportation. Ever since the failed attempt to place their flag on the section leading from the bridge to Kornidzor, the people living in Artsakh have been completely isolated.

What problems will the humanitarian disaster bring with it? We approached Professor Ara Babloyan, MD, the scientific head of the “Arabkir” MC to gain his perspective on this.

- Yes, Artsakh, which has already been under blockade for months, is currently facing an even more difficult situation. The blockade has intensified, making it increasingly difficult to deliver medicine and medical supplies to our compatriots living in Artsakh through the Red Cross and Russian peacekeepers. Furthermore, the transfer of patients from Artsakh to Armenia, who require medical treatment that cannot be provided locally, has also become impossible. This means that these individuals may effectively be sentenced to death.

It is crucial to note that we have patients in Artsakh who have undergone organ transplants and cannot sustain their lives without our medical services and the medicines we used to send.

Therefore, this situation poses a stark choice: either death or becoming part of Azerbaijan? As a doctor, this is unacceptable to me.

At the same time, the professor emphasizes.

- Throughout my professional life, I have treated hundreds of Azerbaijani children and I assure you that even during the tense relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the late 80s and early 90s, I never differentiated between Azerbaijani and Armenian children in need of medical treatment. This is one of the fundamental principles of our humanitarian profession.

I want the authorities of Azerbaijan to look into the eyes of their children and grandchildren, and try to feel what the blockade holds for the children of Artsakh. I propose finding alternative solutions to resolve the issue that do not sacrifice the lives of innocent civilians.

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.