Actions Santé Femmes Association, funded by the French Development Agency, the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region and the French Embassy, is implementing the “Women’s Health in Armenia” (Santé des Femmes en Arménie) programme in the Syunik and Shirak regions, within the framework of which the staff of medical institutions in these regions participate in capacity-building training. This programme is part of the “Resilient Syunik Team Europe” initiative, which is aimed at the socioeconomic development of the Syunik region.
“Being far from the capital, our specialists have not had the opportunity to take part in such an informative and effective series of courses for many years. I greatly appreciate such capacity-building trainings organized for medical staff,” noted Vigen Ghulunts, the head of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department at Goris Medical Center.
The courses, accredited by the National Institute of Health, are conducted by Actions Santé Femmes Association as part of the Women’s Health in Armenia programme, implemented in the Syunik and Shirak regions. Unlike other cases where Armenian healthcare professionals - including doctors, nurses, and midwives - must travel to Yerevan to complete training and earn credits, this programme has brought the courses directly to Syunik.
Actions Santé Femmes Association, founded in 2015, promotes women’s health worldwide, with a particular focus on gynaecology and obstetrics. Its core activities include implementing educational and support programmes for women and youth, providing emergency assistance during conflicts and natural disasters, and advocating for women’s rights.
After the 2020 war, the Association has been supporting Armenia in providing medical assistance. Since 2022, with the support of the French Embassy, and then the French Development Agency, the organization has been actively working in the Syunik region.
Since June 2024, a French gynaecologist and obstetrician visiting Syunik has been conducting two training sessions each month. One session is designed for senior specialists, particularly gynaecologists and paediatricians, while the other is tailored for junior healthcare professionals, including obstetricians and nurses.
Maternity schools promote competent parenting
Another key component of the programme is the establishment of maternity schools in the Goris, Sisian, and Kapan communities of the Syunik region, where a French gynaecologist provides pregnant women with information on pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period, new-born care, nutrition, and other topics. Additionally, a midwife conducts practical training, including breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, which help reduce pain during natural childbirth and promote a smoother birthing experience.
Photo: Mediamax
“Although I had already raised a child and considered myself experienced, the knowledge I gained from these sessions completely changed my perspective, helping me forget certain ingrained habits. For example, I had heard from adults that drinking water while breastfeeding was harmful, but I learned that the opposite is true - since breastfeeding causes dehydration, mothers actually need to drink water.
During the sessions, we do exercises that can help facilitate a smoother and quicker natural childbirth,” said Anna, who is expecting her second child.
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“There was previously a maternity school at Goris Medical Center, but it was not as active as it has become recently through our collaboration with For Women’s Health Association. Participation in the sessions is now high, thanks in large part to our nurses, who actively inform pregnant women about the meetings. As a result, up to 20 expectant mothers attend each month,” noted Vigen Ghulunts.
“Since any pregnant woman in Armenia can choose to have a caesarean section without obstacles, our maternity school sessions also focus on educating expectant mothers about the procedure. We emphasize that a C-section is a surgical intervention with potential risks and complications, and that the recovery period is significantly longer. One of the main reasons for the high rate of C-sections is the lack of epidural anaesthesia in regional hospitals. To help manage pain, we teach various pain-relief exercises,” noted Lilya Shalunts, coordinator of For Women’s Health Association’s Armenian programmes.
Lilya ShaluntsPhoto: Mediamax
The Association has been organizing maternity school meetings for four years now; in the last five months alone, 22 meetings have been organized as part of this programme, five of which were held in Syunik. According to Lilya Shalunts, it is time to pass this experience to Armenian healthcare workers, particularly midwives, so that even if the Association no longer works in the community, they will have all the tools and skills to continue conducting maternity school classes independently.
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“One of the key goals of the programme is to enhance and recognize the role of midwives in Armenia. In France, for example, midwives oversee pregnancies, manage natural childbirth, and provide initial new-born care. In contrast, their role in Armenia is much more limited - doctors are required to be present at all births, regardless of whether complications arise,” said Lilya Shalunts.
Furnished classrooms and training tailored to the educational needs of medical professions
Other beneficiaries of the programme’s capacity-building courses are students from the nursing and midwifery departments of Goris State and Kapan Medical Colleges. Each month, a lecture is held for them aligned with their state curriculum: when students are studying topics such as foetal development or pregnancy, the lecture will cover the same subjects, but from a different perspective.
“I have dreamed of becoming a doctor since childhood, but now I am studying in the nursing department. I find myself once again alongside the professors who arrived from France. The classes are very engaging. What we learn in class is presented interactively, with the necessary materials, slides, and hands-on tools. I am confident that the knowledge I have gained will also help me in finding a job,” said Ruzanna Mkrtchyan, a third-year student of the Nursing Department at Goris State College.
Photo: Mediamax
According to Liana Gevorgyan, an anatomy and physiology lecturer at the college, students are actively participating in the alternative learning process: a positive and open atmosphere has been created, where students feel comfortable asking any questions and eagerly look forward to the next session.
Photo: Mediamax
Goris State College is a partner of For Women’s Health Association, and as part of this collaboration, a newly equipped educational auditorium has been opened. The auditorium is furnished with computers, a projector, obstetric training equipment, and other essential accessories. The opening ceremony was attended by Professor Henri-Jean Philippe, Secretary General of the Association.
Photo: Mediamax
“These programmes are not only useful for various community actors and healthcare institutions, but also for the association’s teams. We are always warmly welcomed by our partner organizations, institutions, and local authorities. Moving forward, we plan to continue our collaboration with the authorities of Syunik, particularly in implementing new initiatives related to caesarean sections,” the professor noted.
According to Karen Lazaryan, director of Goris State College, the support provided is valuable not only for the students and the college but also for the Goris community and the region as a whole. Many of the graduates go on to work in various medical institutions within the region.
Organization of primary gynaecological consultations for women in the border villages of Syunik
Following the lectures and trainings, visits are made to remote border villages, where primary gynaecological consultations are crucial.
Photo: Mediamax
“We can’t do much if a woman has not had a child in the last 10 years, but we see women who have not visited a gynaecologist since giving birth 40 years ago, simply because they have no complaints. However, not having complaints does not mean everything is fine. Our visits to the villages serve multiple purposes: on one hand, we aim to reduce the social burden on women by offering free medical services, and on the other, we are working to change the culture of avoiding doctor visits. If we left it up to the women, many would continue neglecting their health. But once we arrive in their village, they come to us,” said Lilya Shalunts.
Anahit Baghdasaryan
“The Resilient Syunik Team Europe” initiative is the joint undertaking of the European Union, the European Investment Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, EU Member states - Austria, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and Switzerland also joining as an external partner. The initiative aims to contribute to the sustainable socioeconomic development of the Syunik region.
This article was published with the financial support of the European Union. Its content is the sole responsibility of Mediamax and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union and Austrian Development Agency.
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