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April 3, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Contact: Gaiane Khachatrian
Tel: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.aua.am <http://www.aua.am/>
On March 27, 2008, Vice President Robert Saroyan of the Community Hospitals
of Central California Foundation, hosted Dr. Jack Saroyan of San Francisco,
at a luncheon presentation on the proposed implementation of salt
fluoridation for the Republic of Armenia at the Pangea Restaurant in Fresno.
The luncheon addressed the need for private financial support for the
project from the diasporan communities.
As water fluoridation is not economically feasible, salt fluoridation, used
primarily in Europe and South American countries, is the best solution for
reducing dental decay in Armenia. Salt fluoridation can reduce dental decay
by 50 to 60 per cent among children. This cost effective public health
measure can not only save teeth, but reduces the need for future dental
treatment for individuals in rural and urban areas.
This dental decay prevention project will benefit Armenia's 815,000 school
children significantly. Many of their parents cannot afford dental care and
most children in small towns and villages do not have access to dental care.
The cost for the first year is approx. $68,000 and the annual cost is only
$46,000 per year. This amounts to a cost of 6 cents per child annually.
Beginning in 1997, Dr. Saroyan has made several humanitarian visits to
Armenia with the Armenian Dental Society of California. He and his
colleagues have provided dental care for thousands of Armenian children. But
according to these dentists, individual dental care is not sufficient to
meet the huge needs of the children as toothaches are one of the most common
of their health complaints.
Fortunately, Armenia produces its own salt at the Avon Salt Plant in Yerevan
and is already iodizing the salt for prevention of goiters. After a
feasibility study of the salt plant and a discussion with the owner and
chief executive officer, Dr. Saroyan was informed that the salt plant, with
some modifications, could add fluoride to their salt, if directed by the
government. The Minister of Health has met with the American University of
Armenia President Dr. Haroutune Armenian and the Dean of the College of
Health Sciences, Dr. Robert Bagramian. The Minister told the AUA that when
sufficient money is available, he would recommend that the government direct
the salt plant to add the micronutrient to the table salt to prevent dental
decay.
Some of the guests present were Senator Chuck Poochigian, Dr. Dennis
Kelebjian, Pastor Bernard Guekguezian, Mr. David Nalchajian and Dr. Tim
Baker.
Dr. Saroyan is an Assistant Professor at both the University of the Pacific,
School of Dentistry and the AUA. He has established a Salt Fluoridation
Account at the American University of Armenia offices in Oakland, where the
funds would be held. All accounting, disbursement and auditing will be done
by the AUA. Anyone interested in more information about this project may
contact Dr. Jack M. Saroyan at the AUA office telephone (510) 987-9452 or
email [email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
American University of Armenia Corporation
300 Lakeside Drive, 5th Floor
Oakland, CA 94612
Contact: Gaiane Khachatrian
Tel: (510) 987-9452
Fax: (510) 208-3576
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.aua.am <http://www.aua.am/>
On March 27, 2008, Vice President Robert Saroyan of the Community Hospitals
of Central California Foundation, hosted Dr. Jack Saroyan of San Francisco,
at a luncheon presentation on the proposed implementation of salt
fluoridation for the Republic of Armenia at the Pangea Restaurant in Fresno.
The luncheon addressed the need for private financial support for the
project from the diasporan communities.
As water fluoridation is not economically feasible, salt fluoridation, used
primarily in Europe and South American countries, is the best solution for
reducing dental decay in Armenia. Salt fluoridation can reduce dental decay
by 50 to 60 per cent among children. This cost effective public health
measure can not only save teeth, but reduces the need for future dental
treatment for individuals in rural and urban areas.
This dental decay prevention project will benefit Armenia's 815,000 school
children significantly. Many of their parents cannot afford dental care and
most children in small towns and villages do not have access to dental care.
The cost for the first year is approx. $68,000 and the annual cost is only
$46,000 per year. This amounts to a cost of 6 cents per child annually.
Beginning in 1997, Dr. Saroyan has made several humanitarian visits to
Armenia with the Armenian Dental Society of California. He and his
colleagues have provided dental care for thousands of Armenian children. But
according to these dentists, individual dental care is not sufficient to
meet the huge needs of the children as toothaches are one of the most common
of their health complaints.
Fortunately, Armenia produces its own salt at the Avon Salt Plant in Yerevan
and is already iodizing the salt for prevention of goiters. After a
feasibility study of the salt plant and a discussion with the owner and
chief executive officer, Dr. Saroyan was informed that the salt plant, with
some modifications, could add fluoride to their salt, if directed by the
government. The Minister of Health has met with the American University of
Armenia President Dr. Haroutune Armenian and the Dean of the College of
Health Sciences, Dr. Robert Bagramian. The Minister told the AUA that when
sufficient money is available, he would recommend that the government direct
the salt plant to add the micronutrient to the table salt to prevent dental
decay.
Some of the guests present were Senator Chuck Poochigian, Dr. Dennis
Kelebjian, Pastor Bernard Guekguezian, Mr. David Nalchajian and Dr. Tim
Baker.
Dr. Saroyan is an Assistant Professor at both the University of the Pacific,
School of Dentistry and the AUA. He has established a Salt Fluoridation
Account at the American University of Armenia offices in Oakland, where the
funds would be held. All accounting, disbursement and auditing will be done
by the AUA. Anyone interested in more information about this project may
contact Dr. Jack M. Saroyan at the AUA office telephone (510) 987-9452 or
email [email protected]