29/04/2009 12:42
VivaCell-MTS makes investment in Armenia’s health care system
(Press Release) VivaCell-MTS, a subsidiary of Mobile TeleSystems OJSC ( «MTS» – NYSE: MBT) and the Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry Charitable Trust (ABMDR) announce the opening of the Stem Cell Harvesting Center which will target its activities at saving the endangered lives of those Armenians and non-Armenians alike who suffer from leukemia and other ominous blood-related diseases.
Armenian Bone Marrow Donor Registry is a non-profit charitable organization which has for the last ten years pursued its noble goals in and outside the Republic of Armenia. ABMDR’s mission is to help the Armenians scattered around the world overcome fatal blood diseases through bone marrow/stem cell transplantation. Hence the ABMDR aims at identifying matching bone marrow/stem cell donors for the patients suffering from leukemia, ensuring high transplant efficiency, recruiting donors throughout Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora, and at creating an all-Armenian database.
Up to the present date, more than 14.000 donors have volunteered of register with the ABMDR, 821 matches have been identified, and 9 bone marrow/stem cell transplantations have been performed. The setting up of a state-of-the-art Stem Cell Harvesting Center has been a priority among ABMDR’s recent activities.
This new project implemented by the life-saving ABMDR, is, like the organization’s other ventures, of all-Armenian scope and nature. The establishment of the Stem Cell Harvesting Center, being one vital ingredient in the framework of Armenia-Diaspora relations, was supported by many Diasporan charitable organizations and generous individuals. The overall contribution made by the Diaspora to the creation of the ABMDR's Stem Cell Harvesting Center totals up to half a billion dollars.
«VivaCell-MTS, being a long time corporate partner and supporter of ABMDR, once again came up with a considerable social investment which will serve the noble mission of saving endangered lives,» said General Manager of VivaCell-MTS Ralph Yirikian.
«The realization of this project, marking a significant step forward in Armenia’s health care sphere, was made possible thanks to the invaluable and much appreciated support by the organization's long time friend and ally – VivaCell-MTS – a key player in the country’s telecommunications area and a leading mobile networks operator.
VivaCell-MTS contributed 106 million drams which will be fully targeted at saving of lives at stake,» said Dr. Sevak Avagyan, Executive Director of ABMDR.