Author: Antranik Varosian

The congressman discussed the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic and addressed AAMS members’ questions.

The Armenian American Medical Society hosted a virtual town hall featuring Congressman Adam Schiff to provide members with a congressional perspective on the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Schiff fielded questions from participants on a wide range of pandemic-related topics of both local and global importance.

“We are honored that Representative Schiff could join us for this important discussion,” said Kevin Galstyan, MD, president of the AAMS. “As medical professionals, many of our members are on the frontline of this pandemic. With the situation evolving daily, his candid remarks gave us a sense of what we can expect in the weeks and months ahead, and the best course of action to take regarding our practice, our patients, and our community.

Schiff acknowledged the urgency of developing a vaccine for this new virus but cautioned about the unrealistic expectations for the timeline. While experts say it can be accomplished in a year, he said that is considered lightning speed for vaccine development. “We need to get this vaccine right,” he said. “We need to make sure this vaccine is properly tested so we don’t make an already terrible situation even worse.”

The representative shared his thoughts on the roles the Federal government, the states, and municipalities should play in reopening the economy. He believes there should be Federal leadership on this matter and Federal social distancing guidelines in place. Because every state or municipality is not in a similar situation, Schiff feels they should not all be opened at the same time. He urged collaboration between the Federal government and the states in relaxing the guidelines, so these efforts are coordinated for maximum effectiveness.

Rallies to push states to open before their ready have put increased pressure on governments, but Schiff is adamant they not be swayed by the protesters’ demands. He noted these rallies are not spontaneous creations but are organized and funded by political groups. “If we are guided by politics instead of science, we will lose tens of thousands more lives needlessly,” he said. “People will be exploiting the pandemic for political gain in the fall, one way or another. This is way too serious and deadly for that. To agitate and encourage protesters to ignore science will to lead to more misery and death. We need to be very careful about how we approach this and make sure we have the testing, tracing, and capacity to isolate in place before we can re-open or we will just do the country more damage.” 

When asked about the possibility of a second wave of infections, Schiff believes the country will encounter a series of waves as social distancing is relaxed, resulting in flareups that need to be suppressed. “This is going to be with us for a while and I think it is important for us to speak to the American public plainly and realistically about it,” said Schiff. “We see this happening in other countries, such as Singapore and Taiwan, where infections surge when social distancing is relaxed too soon. These countries reimpose distancing and tracing measures to control outbreaks.”

Schiff concluded his remarks by recognizing the work of medical professionals. He recalled being moved while watching news interviews with healthcare providers in New York City. “These are people who see their patients die every day,” he said. “They are devastated and exhausted. They are working their hearts out and giving everything they have to patients and their families, at the risk of their own health, while people are protesting to make the problem worse. Your voices right now are respected, and they are enormously important.”

This town hall was a part of the AAMS’ broader response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on our healthcare providers and communities. The organization instituted the AAMS CME/CDE Educational COIVD-19 Expert Series webinar to deliver the latest developments and information on COVID-19 by experts on the front line of the pandemic. The AAMS also provides the community with updated COVID-19 resources.

Vicken Sepilian, MD, AAMS Vice President, served as moderator of the town hall meeting. “Most participants in this town hall meeting are healthcare professionals, not just from the U.S., but from across the globe—the Middle East, South America, Canada, Uruguay, and Europe,” said Dr. Sepilian. “Through our virtual outreach, the AAMS can share the latest science that is available with our colleagues, our community, and our patients. Despite the political bickering and partisanship that is unfolding, our message is to look at the science and use the most sound information to best care for our communities.”

The AAMS, with more than 500 members, is the largest Armenian medical society in the Diaspora. Our directory of health practitioners is a vital resource for patients seeking care in various health-related disciplines and specialties. Our mission is to promote excellence in healthcare and to cultivate professional development through service and education to its members and their communities in the Diaspora and the homelands. We achieve this by offering community health education, humanitarian assistance, medical services, and outreach, as well as providing professional development and networking opportunities for our health practitioners.

By Samvel Sukiasyan

NEWS.am Sport continues presenting the young Armenian football players who play abroad, but dream of playing for the Armenian national team one day.

Armenian midfielder Eduard Spertsyan plays for Krasnodar-2 of FC Krasnodar of Russia.

Eduard was born on June 7, 2000 in Stavropol, Russia.

The Armenian midfielder is a pupil of the FC Krasnodar football academy, and he has been playing for the youth teams of this club since he was 10 years old.

In the 2018/19 season, the 19-year-old football player took part in 11 matches, but this season, Spertsyan has started playing more often as a member of Krasnodar-2; he has already played in 20 games so far in the current season.

Also, Spertsyan took part in friendly matches and in the Match Premier tournament as a member of the main team of FC Krasnodar.

Eduard was included on the roster of the matches of the UEFA Youth League, and was among the “targets” by the Russian national youth teams.

According to NEWS.am Sport’s information, Eduard Spertsyan is ready to join the Armenian youth team and, later, the national team.

Armenian community members across the Western United States have gathered at local Armenian centers to provide assistance to community members by dropping off groceries at people’s homes or by taking to social media to provide updates on the latest developments and guidelines related to the COVID-19 crisis.

Soon after the “shelter in place” guidelines were in place in Los Angeles County, the Armenian Community COVID-19 task force was formed to assist the community during the crisis and to provide much-needed supplies to those staying at home to prevent the spread of the virus.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation Western US Central Committee, along with representatives from the Armenian Cultural Foundation, Armenian National Committee of America – Western US, Armenian Relief Society of Western USA, Armenian Youth Federation of Western US, Armenian Youth Federation Juniors, ARF Shant Student Association, Homenetmen (Armenian General Athletic Union and Scouts of Western US, Hamazkayin Armenian Cultural & Educational Society, the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Board of Regents of the Prelacy Armenian Schools have all taken an active role in this task force.

In its efforts to keep the community connected and to provide assistance to those in need, the Armenian Community Covid-19 Task Force has created a helpline at (818) 507-1933 and a website for community members to find Coronavirus related resources pertaining to health, employees, students, businesses, seniors, renters, and homeowners.

The Covid-19 Armenian Community Task Force through the generous donation from Los Angeles-area business owners Kev Kouyoumjian, along with his brother Vic Kouyoumjian and their father Jacques Kouyoumjian, distributed thousands of masks to the local community. This effort was initiated in line with guidelines announced by L.A. County and City leadership urging people to wear face masks to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Many of the masks were donated to the medical staff at Glendale Adventist Hospital, with its distribution being facilitated through the ARS. Other masks are being used byr volunteers and those helping distribute vital supplies to the community.

From Glendale and Hollywood, to Pasadena, Orange County and Granda Hills, ARF chapters mobilized their members and alongside volunteers from affiliate organizations, such as the ARS and AYF, came together at local centers to prepare care packages to be delivered to community members who have reached on the COVID-19 task force hotline requesting assistance.

To date more than 500 grocery and supply bags have been delivered in various communities across Los Angeles.

On Monday, Little Armenia’s ACF Hollywood Youth Center was filled with volunteers—all keeping in line with social distancing guidelines and wearing protective gear—who were joined by the pastor of St. Garabed Armenian Church Archpriest Vicken Vassilian to prepare care packages of donated groceries and other critical materials, which were delivered to residents in the Little Armenia neighborhood of Los Angeles.

FOX 11 News was on hand to capture how Armenian community members were coming together help each other and aired a segment by reporter Araksya Karapetyan on the channel’s Good Day LA program. Horizon Armenian Television was also there and reported on the local community efforts as part of its ongoing reports on the COVID-19 crisis.

In mid-March a similar scene took shape at the Melkon and Angel Melkonian Youth Center in Granada Hills, where members of the ARF Arshavir Shiragian chapter initiated an outreach effort to gauge the needs and community members and to deliver needed supplies to their doorsteps.

Over in Glendale, the Krikor and Mariam Karamanoukian Glendale Youth Center has been a bevy of activity, with ARF Aharonian Gomideh members leading the charge to keep the community informed, while at the same time, provide assistance to those in need.

The center also hosted a blood drive, as the American Red Cross has issued a call for blood donations during the COVID-19 crisis.

In Pasadena’s Hovhannes and Hripsime Jivalagian Youth Center, a similar scene has unfolded and members of the ARF Lernavayr chapter have brought together volunteers from across the community to not only prepare the care packages but also to deliver the goods to residents and community members.

In Burbank’s Beshir Mardirossian Burbank Youth Center, members of the ARF Aghbalian gomideh teamed up with the local ARS Araz chapter, whose members had decided to sew face masks to be included in the care packages being delivered to Burbank residents. At the Meher and Satig Der Ohanessian Youth Center, ARF Zavarian chapter members, with the participation of the local sister organizations, came together to gather materials, with each person leaving center carrying bags of supplies to be dropped off at people’s houses. The ARF Montebello Dro, Valley Rosdom and North Hollywood Papken Seuni chapters all took part in efforts to assist their immediate community members with a message that the task force will continue its activities until the COVID-19 crisis is over, well after county and local officials determine to reopen Los Angeles.

The Armenian Community COVID-19 Task Force is calling on community members to join its efforts either by volunteering or donating  to its efforts.