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A Swedish couple in 25th year of Armenia involvement

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  • A Swedish couple in 25th year of Armenia involvement

    A Swedish couple in 25th year of Armenia involvement
    by Ashkhen Bakhchinyan

    http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2013-03-31-a-swedish-couple-in-25th-year-of-armenia-involvement
    Published: Sunday March 31, 2013


    The Strömbergs.

    YEREVAN - Over the years following the devastating earthquake of 1988
    in Armenia, Margaret and Ulf Strömbergs have become attached to
    Armenia and Armenians, contributing greatly to healthcare reforms in
    the country.

    Margaret is a nurse and healthcare management specialist. She has held
    a number of managerial positions at Swedish Jonköping hospital over
    the last 25 years, has been responsible for the rights of medical
    staff, healthcare quality and organizational issues, and has also
    ensured cooperation between higher medical Institutions and different
    healthcare companies in a regional level. Ulf is a highly proficient
    pedagogue and has worked for years as a manager in the educational
    sphere of their region, where there is a high percent of refugees.
    They have two children and six grandchildren.

    -How did you first come to know Armenia and Armenians?

    -This was after Spitak's earthquake. I received an offer from a number
    of Swedish charity organizations to leave for Armenia and find out on
    spot what assistance was required. We were sent to number 4 Children's
    Hospital. There were injured children all around and also children who
    had lost one or both of their parents or all their relatives. I saw
    children who had lost their hands and feet and also patients with
    injuries of internal organs. By a call of my heart I caught the
    glimpse of a blue-eyed child, approached and took his hand and felt
    divine calling to work with those children.

    -Who is your sponsor and what do you signify in this work?

    -We are sponsored by Swedish church and PMU InterLife Company, which
    helped to receive financing from SIDA (Swedish International
    Development Cooperation Agency). At first we had planned to acquire
    necessary medical devices and products, but after a while we realized
    that exchange of experience was much more important. And nowadays our
    cooperation is geared first of all to this end. The exchange of
    experience and knowledge between Armenian and Swedish medical
    professionals was a kind of a pillar for those who were ready to
    contribute to Armenian healthcare reforms. The trainings were first of
    all aimed at change in attitude towards both adult and children
    patients in such a way, as to make the medical treatment fully comply
    with guiding principles underpinning the UN Convention on the Right of
    the Child. Owing to support of Swedish specialists we were able to
    eliminate a number of drawbacks in various spheres, enhance the
    knowledge and treatment level, get informed of up-to-date research
    results and new, cost effective treatment methods. Children diabetes,
    toxicology, child infections and prescription of antibiotics are the
    spheres we have mostly prioritized.

    -I think you have much to boast. Game therapy and other similar ideas
    were then a novelty in Armenia ...

    -In 2004 the first game therapy ward was opened at "our" hospital.
    Since then therapy wards are a must at every children hospital in
    Armenia. Here during their stationary treatment children can
    completely forget about their illness, feel free, draw and play and
    get rid of fear. It is also easier for doctors to find the right
    approach to every patient by means of closer contact with them in this
    ward. Subsequently on the basis of this the family center was
    established where specialists worked united to form a clear picture of
    a health status of each patient, simultaneously addressing the needs
    of their families. Today family centers operate in six regions of
    Armenia. Such centers focus on prevention of illness, promotion and
    keeping of health. They involve the family as an organic whole.
    Participation of various specialists and their teamwork forms an
    important part of our training programs. The treatment of diabetic
    children was also a novelty here. Before that they were treated like
    invalids. A wrong public opinion was mould that diabetic children
    should not receive insulin. However when people saw that those
    children who were injected insulin and had right diet and physical
    activity were practically healthy many changes took place in their
    medical treatment, as well as school and family lives.

    -In fact you decided teaching people to fish, instead of giving fish to eat.

    -Yes, at the beginning the help was more material, afterwards we
    focused on educational programs and exchange of experience. We made it
    possible for Armenian doctors and nurses to attend 6 times Jonköping
    International clinical micro system festival, where they became aware
    of world medical innovations, the latest scientific research findings
    and various healthcare reform models. To make a progress often
    requires less sophisticated techniques. Application of just a few
    simple devices, simple investigations and result analysis are often
    enough. Prevention of healthcare-associated infections cuts down
    healthcare expenses drastically and saves time. Keeping to simple
    basic hygiene rules reduces food poisoning cases. These are common and
    available examples leading to improvement in this sphere. From
    1996-2008 32 future nurses visited Sweden to participate in Jonköping
    college training program. One nurse has earned a bachelor's degree in
    nursing and two of them became holders of master's degrees. 10 medical
    practitioners have visited Ryhov Provincial hospital in Jonköping.
    Some of the nurses took an initiative for caring about 40 homeless
    children. Today the issues of homeless children are addressed by a
    separate program managed by one of the nurses who has accomplished our
    training course. We have one more program which is aimed at finding
    new basis in life for people with social and family problems and drug
    and alcohol addiction.

    -What challenges did you face?

    -Around 20 years ago English-speaking people were few in Armenia.
    These were tough years for the country. Conflict with Azerbaijan, the
    breakup of the USSR, water and electricity supply cut offs and absence
    of basic life conditions naturally effected medical treatment quality
    and life of people in general. In those years there were too many
    hospital beds per capita in Yerevan with plenty of medical staff.
    Hospital number 4 was under the danger of either closing or turning
    into a military hospital. We have not once sent letters to government
    authorities urging them to take into consideration the investments
    made by Sweden for reconstruction of the hospital. Thanks to donations
    the heat and electricity system, the floor and the bathroom units of
    the hospital have already been reconstructed. Today it's a leading
    children's hospital with up-to-date equipments, and highly specialized
    professionals.

    -What are the tangible results of your activity?

    -Unfortunately no systematic reports were made at that time and we
    have a few statistical data to show you definite results in figures.
    However there is much progress in treatment of diabetes and toxicosis,
    and the number of child deaths and abortions in rural areas has
    decreased. Family issues and the rights of children are discussed more
    openly. We trust in the power of education, it can change the
    situation. Competent approach to problems alone can ward off numerous
    calamities. The cases when children were poisoned by drinking petrol
    or ammonia out of bottles which looked like a soft drink were very
    frequent at that time. Today toxicology department can immediately
    contact Swedish Poisons Information Centre and receive any type of
    information they are interested in. We pay a great attention to
    teamwork. Every single specialist is equally important for us. Today
    much more people realize that quality-wise treatment requires unified
    actions of various specialists, whose professionalism, in its turn, is
    greatly elevated in the work environment.

    -How do you evaluate the situation today?

    -Yerevan has become a modern city with cutting edge department stores,
    restaurants and expensive cars. New high rise buildings with empty
    flats stand in the city centre, but behind this glamorous veil the
    vast majority of population faces serious social, economic and
    ecological problems. Regions and villages lag decades behind the
    cities. We should encourage people's hope in future and give everyone
    an opportunity to partake in social life. Unfortunately corruption and
    mafia have penetrated into all spheres of life. Although additional
    investments have greatly contributed to significant rise in healthcare
    quality over these years, many hospitals have been repaired and fitted
    out with state-of-the-art equipment, the medical staff is not ready to
    cooperation and teamwork yet, there is a strict hierarchy among
    various specialists, and very often warm and humane approaches to
    treatment of patients, which are most important elements in treatment
    are neglected. Medical practitioners themselves are often unwilling to
    believe and participate in medical reforms. No doubt the working
    conditions in which nurses operate are often abnormal. Nobody can stay
    alert 24 hours a day and ensure productivity. But who really cares
    about their working conditions if not themselves? It's time they
    adapted their work schedules to EU work scheduling principles.
    Luckily, however, we have also met such enthusiastic persons, who put
    forth great efforts to further the development and gain knowledge to
    enhance their own work quality.

    -What's the difference between Sweden and Armenia and what are the
    most serious obstacles on the road of Armenia's development?

    -The differences are numerous and include democracy level, public
    participation, social justice, social system and tax policy
    differences. In Sweden the law is the same for everyone. The whole
    system operates in a way as to ensure everybody's right to education,
    work and access to healthcare. A serious obstacle on the path of
    development is that the wealthy accumulate their wealth at the expense
    of the poor. In the course of our activity we often focus on
    democratic issues even in the small groups of society. We need to
    shape a conscious civil society. People should realize that no changes
    are possible without there direct participation and support. Men shall
    be encouraged to express their opinion freely. Rational implementation
    of available resources fosters development. It's not by chance that
    the healthcare system of Sweden focuses first of all on preventive
    measures and even a kindergarten child is taught the value of saving.

    -How would you describe Armenians?

    -The impressions of our first days in Armenia almost haven't changed.
    Armenians are gracious, gregarious and complaisant. We have made
    friends with whom we communicate till now. They are hospitable and
    hurry to help you instead of waiting for you to ask for help.
    Unfortunately many Armenians don't see positive perspectives in their
    own country. They are sure that they are powerless to alter anything
    in their life. And exactly this disposition towards life hinders their
    development mostly. Depression leads to hopelessness and laziness.

    -How has Armenia influenced you personally?

    -We have learnt a lot during these years. To me, communication with
    other nations enriches a person spiritually. You gain insight into
    your own culture, suddenly beginning to see it in another light. It
    was an unusual experience for us; another psychology, an unusual
    family structure, where people of two or more generations lived
    together. Our entire family, relatives and many of our friends are
    enrolled in the aid process. During our family gatherings, for
    instance, we collect money for the needs of the hospital and other
    projects.

    -Can charity be called a national trait?

    -We believe that charity, environmental protection and participation
    in social life are part of our Christian belief. You feel really happy
    when you share your knowledge and possibilities with others knowing
    that doing so you can change their lives. You want to make your own
    contribution to the solution of even a smallest issue. Some people see
    the meaning of their life in charity. Our friends have been helping a
    family from Spitak for years. Some of our friends collected money and
    bought a cow for a large, deprived family from Aparan region of
    Armenia and since then have been providing them continuous support (we
    became aware of the family from your newspaper).

    Summing up let us mention one more important factor. Our work could
    not have been so productive without our devoted, local friends,
    people, who have done enormous work with loving care. We owe them a
    great deal for our work's continuity, rejoice together for a slightest
    success and jointly correct the errors we make on our way.


    From: Baghdasarian
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