Armen Sarkissian Proposes to Create Simple Lung Ventilators for COVID-19 Treatment in Armenia

The President of the Republic, Armen Sarkissian, continues discussions with international partners regarding prevention and treatment issues related to the new coronavirus pandemic. On March 27, he had a phone conversation with Ara Darzi, a member of the House of Lords in Great Britain, Director of the Global Health Innovation Institute at Imperial College London, and former UK Health Minister of Armenian descent, as well as with Aramayis Kamalov, head of the Medical Center of Moscow State University.

During the conversation, the possibility of collaboration in the field of medical engineering was discussed with Academician Kamalov. Referring to their previous conversation regarding the new coronavirus with Lord Darzi, the President emphasized the importance of uniting efforts and cooperation in overcoming the pandemic, as well as the necessity for sharing experience and mutual assistance.

The President indicated that during a remote lecture with students from Yerevan State Medical University named after Mkhitar Heratsi and the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, he proposed that future doctors and engineers work on creating and producing simple lung ventilators for treating COVID-19 in Armenia.

President Sarkissian suggested that Lord Darzi consider support for this initiative from medical engineering experts at Imperial College London and explore cooperation opportunities with the two Armenian universities.

It is noteworthy that on March 21, President Sarkissian also had a phone conversation with renowned Armenian-American businessman and philanthropist, co-founder and president of American Moderna Therapeutics, Noubar Afeyan, during which the latter addressed the company's efforts in creating and testing a vaccine against the coronavirus. In this context, the President welcomes the participation of Lord Darzi, Noubar Afeyan, Andre Andonian, a managing partner of McKinsey & Company in Japan, co-founder of the IDeA foundation, co-founder of UWC Dilijan School, co-founder of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, co-founder and board member of the Foundation for Armenian Science and Technology (FAST), businessman, investor, and philanthropist Ruben Vardanyan, and the Minister of Health of Armenia, Arsen Torosyan in a video conference organized by the FAST foundation today to discuss opportunities for expanding cooperation and practical support measures.