OBOS Transformed Worldwide: Armenia

Continued

Some years later, upon the initiative of the Director of “Huys” publishing house, honored journalist of the Republic of Armenia, head of the media department of “Armenpress,” Ms. Nora Melikyan, the work restarted. This time, in the aim of publishing the book “Our body and we: for the new century” in Armenian, the publishing house applied to the “Health book collective of Boston women” asking for technical and financial assistance. They also submitted an application to the “Open society institute” (Soros Foundation) for receiving a grant.

I would like to mention the great investment of the “Armenian charity fund of the development of population” in the publication of the book in Armenian in response to the request of the publishing house “Huys,” that provided them with an office, free computers and stationary.

The Director of this Fund, qualified specialist in the sphere of reproductive health, doctor-gynecologist Mary Khachikyan, personally participated in the editing activities of the book on a voluntary basis. She united a large group of different specialists which, together with the publishing network “Artavazd,” jointly supported “Huys” in all the stages of the publication of the book.

It should be noted that the old translation could not be used any more because the 1998 edition of “our Bodies, Ourselves” had been rewritten, with new chapters and new approaches to the fundamentals added. Thus, a lot of material from the work done previously could not be used. “Health Book Collective of Boston Women” suggested creating a new working group which would include experienced translators, editors, doctors-specialists, artists-designers and other professionals.

I would like to express my special gratitude to the author of many scientific books and brochures, doctor Jasmine Harutjunyan, and to Editor Alexander Khachikyan, who made a significant input in the implementation of this publication.

It is worth mentioning the names of the translators -- Hrachya Tatevyan, Zohrab Sargsyan, Hasmik Yerznkyan, Lusine Khachatryan, Gegham Aslibekyan, Cristine Barseghyan, Aida Sahakyan, Armine Avagyan, Anahit Khachatryan, Hasmik Tevosyan, Ruzanna Sarukhanyan, Anna Grigoryan, Lusine Dadayan, Astghik Hakobyan, Astghik Avagyan -- as well as the doctors Liana Galstyan, Lusine Harutjunyan, Ruzan Avetisyan, artist Maro Sargsyan, computer operators Anna Hovhanissyan and Mary Gharibyan, proof-reader Mardgik Melkonyan.

As many of the ideas in the English publication do not comply with the Armenian national traditions, the publishers have not included some of the chapters of the book, did not translate certain issues and shortened several chapters.

Finally, I would like to thank the numerous Armenian women for the placing the book squarely in the context of their own lives, without which achievement it would have been difficult to make this valuable book written by American women relevant to Armenian readers. Many of them are from both urban and rural areas and find this book very necessary as they currently face difficulties in getting information on gender and reproductive health issues. They have evaluated what the American women tell about their experience and conclusions.

Some words about the sponsors of the Armenian publication of the book. In response to the letter-request of the publishing house “Huys”, “Health Book Collective of Boston Women” started to sought funding for the project, applying to different charity organizations and individuals. In 1999 we succeeded in obtaining a definite sum of money, for which I would like to thank the “Lincy Foundation”, especially Ellen and Francis Sargsyan and Iva Metsoryan.

On behalf of my American and Armenian colleagues I would like to express my deep gratitude, especially to a woman from New York who preferred to remain anonymous. This woman’s donanation helped the Armenian publishers and allowed to prepare the first 1000 copies of the book in 2001. The quality of the translation has been controlled and was assessed also by the “Open Society Institute”. In its result the publishing house “Huys” received an OSI grant that allowed us to print an additional 1000 copies.

We would like to thank also the publishing house “Tigran Mets” and publishing cooperative “Printex” for the implementation of painting and publication of the book on a high level.

To our Armenian sisters with kind regards from the “Health book collective of Boston women”.

Judy Norsigian
Co-author of the book “Our body and we”,
One of the founders of the “Health Book Collective of Boston Women,” and Program Director

USEFUL MANUAL FOR WOMEN
Nune Mangasaryan, RoA Deputy Minister of Health

We represent to the reader the publication of the first Armenian large book “Our body and we”. This book is about the different issues related to the health of women, first authored by the famous group of the “Health Book Collective of Boston Women”. It has been issued regularly with changes, additions and new achievements in medicine, as well as personal experiences and practices of many women including new publications.

This kind of book is very important for millions of women, as well as for Armenian women. Perfect health is possible in cases where not only the qualified and permanent medical care is available but also the existence of comprehensive and necessary information on health protection. Such a manual of encyclopedical nature is the book “Our body and we.” Armenian women have a great need for this information..

In Armenia at present, migration of population has been increased, there are a great number of vulnerable groups, the surrounding environment has deteriorated, the birth rate has decreased, the danger of dissemination of sexual infections (especially AIDS) has increased, and the indicators of maternal and infant mortality and infertility have also increased. As the result of global market relations, regular use of health services is not available to all. Under such conditions, giving information to the population through publications, newspapers, and TV and radio programs is very important.

The book “Our body and we” will help women understand their bodies and physical and social requirements correctly through the absolutely appropriate medical-scientific and social formulations. Having this book in their hands, Armenian women can go through it every moment and follow its advice, which include a broad range of subjects, starting from sexual development up to pregnancy, delivery, child care and many other issues, enabling women to make informed decisions on issues related to their health.

It should be mentioned that in the current stage of medical technologies and medical care, sometimes untested drugs and surgical interferences are used which present serious dangers to women’s’ health. Representing these new technologies and treatment, the authors of the book warn that their impact is not been clarified yet…

The book “Our body and we” is written in an understandable way which is clear to all women regardless of age and educational level. A woman can see herself in this book and compare her past experience with others in different situations. Sometimes the reader can read about approaches, viewpoints, spiritual experience and descriptions that she had not paid attention to before.

On behalf of “Our body and we,” the Armenian reader gains a lot of much needed information. Therefore, it is worth mentioning the grateful work that has been performed by the Armenian staff, i.e. translators, editors, doctors-consultants and others. Maintaining the original, they tried to overcome many difficulties, thinking hard about the professional terms and concepts which would make the book accessible for the reader.

Good luck with the Armenian publication of the book “Our body and we”. We hope that Armenian women will find the answers to many questions related to different spheres of life in this book.

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The Armenian publishing staff of the valuable book “Our body and we” especially thanks our Armenian colleague Judy Norsigian who has been the initiator and the sponsor of this work. She is the representative of the fourth generation of the Genocide 1915. Living far from her motherland, by the call of the ancestors and by her soul, she is connected with her country and tries to assist in all ways in the health maintenance of her sisters. Judy Norsigian is one of the founders of the “Health Book Collective of Boston Women” and one of the authors of the book “Our body and we.” Her family comes from Western Armenia, Kharberd, Shapingarahisar originally, but due to fate she was born in North America. She graduated from Harvard University and has a Bachelor’s Degree. Since her college years she has been involved in publication activity related to the issues of reproductive health of women. She gives lectures in medical institutions. In her words, she has…become a bridge between society and health workers. Let’s remember Judy Norsigian’s mother, Ms. Agnes, who had a great role in the connecting her daughter living in the American environment with her national background, maintaining the love of her grandfathers in her soul.

Her husband, a famous doctor-sociologist, taught at Brandeis University for 36 years. He is an author of many books under the title “Social autobiography,” protected the disabled and was one of the soldiers struggling against the wrong treatment of them… Many thanks to Judy Norsigian and to other women from the Armenian Diaspora who provided moral and financial assistance for the implementation of this difficult program. We wish them health and new successes in their gender movement, humanitarian and patriotic endeavors.

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