Epress.am News from Armenia
An art exhibit and sale to launch the Yerevan-based MamaSyu charity foundation took place at the Children’s Art Museum as part of the National Center of Aesthetics today. Though invitations were sent to both foreign diplomats based in Yerevan and local state officials, it’s important to note that no local government officials responded to the call and attended the event.
The MamaSyu foundation was created to raise awareness as well as funds for women in Armenia diagnosed with breast cancer. One of the founders of the foundation, Syu Sepetchyan, became aware of the issue facing women in Armenia today when her mother became diagnosed with breast cancer and had to have an emergency mastectomy. Following the surgery, Syu’s mother’s doctor prescribed chemotherapy, followed by 18 ampules of the drug Herceptin — each ampule of which costs about $3,000 US. The treatment recommended is neither paid for nor subsidized by the state.
Among the fifty or so people present at the launch were US Ambassador to Armenia Marie Yovanovitch and British Ambassador to Armenia Charles Lonsdale (pictured below). When asked whether they were aware of the foundation’s existence prior to receiving an invitation to the event, both said no. Asked whether they were aware of the issue, Yovanovitch said she was.
“It’s a terrible issue all over the world,” she said.
Lonsdale said he became informed of the issue through the foundation, and said unfortunately the lack of financial assistance is not unique to breast cancer.
“Sadly, I guess it’s not unique for breast cancer, there must be a range of illnesses where funds just aren’t available. Obviously the treatment for this is now available in other countries, I guess there’s no easy solution to that…although basic medial care is required. Maybe medical insurance is in the long term the way forward,” he said.
Asked whether the UK Embassy in Armenia provides any support when it comes to medial issues, Lonsdale said, “We don’t have anything in the humanitarian field. DFID, which is our international aid agency, was here till the end of 2008, but even then they were focused on public administration and systemic issues rather than pure humanitarian issues.”
When asked if they were intent on buying any of the art today, Yovanovitch said, “Maybe, I’ll look around,” while Lonsdale said he just got here and hadn’t had a chance to view the work yet.
Also present at the launch today was owner of Le Cafe de Paris Ashkhen (Valerie) Gordzounian, whose business donated small cakes and coffee for the launch. When asked whether she was aware of the issue, she said she had a friend who had been diagnosed with cancer and she herself as well though she sought treatment in France, where Gordzounian lives part of the year.
“I had a friend here [in Yerevan] who had this illness, and I even went to the National Oncology Center and I saw the situation there. I was very surprised because on every floor I saw women who had had their breasts removed. In Europe, you wouldn’t see that. That [i.e. a mastectomy] is the last resort. To see what they’re doing to Armenian women’s bodies… I was in great pain. And when Syu approached me [to help out at the event], I thought it was a great idea, and we have to help them in every way,” she said, adding that there was to be a struggle at the state level — it shouldn’t be just individuals who are struggling for the cause.
One other issue in Armenia, Gordzounian continued, is that women don’t check themselves and there’s no state program to educate women to check for lumps, get a mammography and so on, and thereby detect breast cancer early. The cafe owner, who already purchased a piece at the exhibit, also stressed the importance of state assistance, political will and hard work in order to fight not only cancer, but other illnesses in Armenia.
Note, the children’s artwork will be on display and on sale for another two days, till May 5.