One sole doctor — heroic Dr. Anush — is responsible for providing medical care to 1,740 rural residents in Armenia’s Syuniq region. When she was just 30 years old, based in Yerevan and mother to a young son, she learned about the plight of rural villages like Darbas. At the time, there was NO resident doctor. So, Dr. Anush gave up her comfortable life and career to become that hero. 

She’s faced many challenges serving this community, but they’ve become her family in the process. Our parent organization Fund for Armenian Relief is doing what it can to support her. In 2022, we raised funds to install a heating system in the clinic. 

Now, we became aware that transportation is also a massive issue. It’s important for Dr. Anush to make regular visits to the villages under her care for consultations, awareness programs, and treatments. She and a few nurses serve not only Darbas, but also the populations of Gitagh, Lor, Shenatagh, Ltsen, and Shamb villages. The clinic has no car and Dr. Anush relies on whoever she can hitch a ride with to get where she needs to go.  

These visits are also challenging due to difficult geographical conditions, which become nearly impossible in adverse weather. Nevertheless, they are crucial for the early detection and prevention of health issues. 

A high-quality all-terrain vehicle would significantly improve the situation by making these visits more feasible, enabling Dr. Anush to more efficiently plan her time. Regular visits would allow for effective health awareness, early disease detection, and the prevention and management of chronic conditions. This, in turn, would help reduce morbidity and mortality within the community.