Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

AUA on the implementation of salt fluoridation in Armenia

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • AUA on the implementation of salt fluoridation in Armenia

    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]
Working...
X