Responding to mental health problems underestimated consequence of  war - official 

ArmInfo.  Following the 44-day war in the fall of 2020, amid the global coronavirus pandemic and the violent displacement of more than 115,000 citizens of Nagorno-  Karabakh in September 2023, the Armenian healthcare system has faced  significant challenges in coping with the scale of the crisis. This  was stated by Deputy Minister of Health of Armenia Lena Nanushyan,  speaking at the 78th session of the World Health Assembly of WHO  (World Health Organization). 

In particular, she said that in 2023, the Armenian healthcare system  had to meet the urgent medical needs of internally displaced persons  from Nagorno-Karabakh, in particular the victims of the explosion at  the fuel depot. In the long term, according to the deputy minister,  responding to growing mental health problems remains one of the most  underestimated consequences of the conflict. "This experience has  shown us the importance of combining efforts to rebuild the health  system with broader peacebuilding efforts. Peace is not just the  absence of war, but also access to essential services, including  health care," Nanushyan said.

In this regard, the Deputy Minister noted that Armenia is actively  working to promote peace in the region not only through dialogue, but  also by opening borders, promoting contacts and cooperation, in  particular through the government's "Crossroads of Peace" initiative.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Health, during the  78th session, an Agreement on Combating Pandemics was adopted. It  should be noted that the document was agreed upon over the course of  three years after the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The  Agreement envisages strengthening cooperation between countries,  international organizations, civil society, the private sector and  other stakeholders to eliminate inequalities in pandemic prevention,  response and preparation. Such cooperation also envisages the  development of vaccines, drugs and medical supplies, taking into  account the experience gained with coronavirus infection.

It is also reported that Lena Nanushyan received the  #WorldNoTobaccoDay award in Geneva, which is a global recognition  reflecting the leadership of the Ministry of Health in saving lives,  protecting young people and countering the influence of the tobacco  industry.