YEREVAN. – The closing ceremony of “A Healthy Start: Promoting the Rights of Children with Disabilities in Armenia” project was held in Yerevan on Wednesday.

Health Minister Derenik Dumanyan, head of Arabkir medical center Ara Baloyan, Deputy Governor of Tavush Region Levon Sargsyan and managing director of “Mission East” Kim Hartzner as well as director of the Armenian office Raffi Dudaklyan delivered speeches during the event.

A film telling about children who had disabilities but they could be prevented through early detection was screened.

The project was implemented in 2006-2013 in the communities of Gegharkunik, Armavir and Tavush Regions by the Danish organization “Mission East”, Arabkir medical center, Bridge of Hope NGO, Institute of Child and Adolescent Health and with financial support of the Danish International Development Agency.

The project was designed to provide children and youths with disabilities with access to mainstream services including access to school and health facilities. Other key project aims were the establishment of a sustainable system for prevention, identification and treatment of childhood disability and empowerment of disability organizations to undertake coordinated advocacy towards national and regional authorities.