Video: Woman Rescued from Unheated Ruins in Gyumri Faces Amputation Due to Gangrene

A 44-year-old woman living alone in one of the rooms of the building at 2A Industrial Street in Gyumri is likely to have her toes amputated due to frostbite. This information was provided to aravot.am by Armen Isahakyan, the executive director of the Gyumri Medical Center.

The frostbitten woman was transferred to the Gyumri Medical Center the day before, with the intervention of Shirak region governor Nazeli Baghdasaryan, and was later sent to the National Burn Institute for specialized treatment. The Gyumri Medical Center has been in contact with specialists at the Burn Institute, who have indicated that, according to preliminary data, the woman’s toes will likely need to be amputated due to gangrene.

It is worth noting that a few days ago, a video was shared on Facebook by user Vahan Tumasyan, depicting a woman living alone in a windowless, dilapidated apartment. She had no proper stove, firewood, or food and was in poor health.

The user wrote alongside the post: “An incurable patient has literally been thrown out onto the street to die in a non-heated ruin in 23-degree cold... Here is the face of the country. She is on the brink of frostbite... In the second floor of the former radio factory dormitory in Gyumri, a sick woman is on the verge of frostbite. She cannot walk, the stove is out of order, and the firewood we provided has run out. Neighbors were desperately calling for help. Just a normal stove, a few bags of firewood, and food are needed. I hope someone in the whole city will come forward to help. We are currently in the villages and can only visit her tomorrow.”

Shirak governor Nazeli Baghdasaryan also responded by writing: “About an hour ago, following the video shared on social media, we visited the apartment of the lone woman at 2A Industrial Street in Gyumri. Given the situation, she was quickly hospitalized at the Gyumri Medical Center and is under the care of doctors. Necessary examinations will be carried out tomorrow morning, and if needed, Armin will undergo a full course of medical treatment. An agreement has already been reached with the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, and together we will try to resolve the woman’s housing issue soon. By combining the efforts of the state and caring public, we can save lives every day.”