The Karagheusian Association delivers comprehensive healthcare to disadvantaged children and families in the community.
Providing care to our patients regardless of their cultural background or individual differences was not a dilemma, but a strong commitment to the organization’s mission.
The Karagheusian Primary Healthcare Unit is part of the Lebanese National Primary Healthcare Network where, together in partnership with the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health and various international humanitarian organizations as well as with the UN Agencies & World Health Organization, seeks to provide primary healthcare services to be an accessible, attainable, affordable, reliable, continuous and high quality of primary healthcare services leaving no one behind. The services of the Primary Healthcare Unit stem from the healthcare need assessment of the people in the catchment area where the Center operates. The PHC Unit does its services by focusing on the essentials of the pillars of public health criteria through:
- Early detection and prevention of diseases through vaccinations and assessments of non-communicable diseases, malnutrition, and mental health issues, in addition to patient education awareness campaigns and in-school health visits.
- Providing treatment according to evidence-based international medical guidelines
- Proper follow-up through on personalized plans of care
Specialty Units:
- Pediatric Clinic and Vaccination: General Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiologist, Pediatric Neurologist, Pediatric general surgeon, Pediatric Ophthalmology, Pediatric ENT
- Obstetrics & Gynecology Services: Pap Smear, IUD insertions, and removal, Fetal Monitoring, Obstetric Ultrasound, Morphoscan.
- Family Medicine and Chronic Care: 16 Family medicine doctors to serve you every day. | Chronic Care: Cardiology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Pulmonology, Gastro-enterology, Neurology.
- Pharmacy Unit: Four Licensed Pharmacists who serve up to 500 patients daily.
- Dental Unit: Six professionals, three Adult Dentists, two Pediatric Dentists, and one Endo-Dentist. Services provided are Check-up, Tooth Cleaning, tooth filing, extractions, root canal, and panoramic x-ray.
- Ophthalmology Unit: Consultations, Chalazion removal, removal of foreign body, pupil dilatation, Tonometry (eye pressure), Dilatation and irrigation of lacrimal duct, Xanthelasma excision.
- Nutrition Unit: Consultations, In-body tests, diet plan and follow-ups.
- Laboratory Unit: Four Lab technicians and one Lab physician provide biochemistry and hormone tests.
- Diagnostic Ultrasound Unit: Breast (uni or bilateral), Prostate, Thyroid, Testicles, Single abdominal organ (gallbladder, kidney, …), Joints (shoulder, elbow, knee…), Pelvic, Abdominal, Venous Doppler, Arterial Doppler, Arterial Doppler, Testicular Doppler, Renal Doppler, Cervical Doppler.
- Physiotherapy Unit: Physiotherapy services for children and adults.
- Other Specialties: ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat), Dermatology, Sports Medicine, Hematology-Oncology, Orthopedy, Urology
To help underprivileged or disadvantaged community members make healthy choices for themselves and their families, the Community Development Unit reaches out with a number of initiatives from teaching the signs and symptoms of common conditions and encouraging people to be proactive in seeking professional care.
Our women-empowerment campaigns, adult education, vocational and employment initiatives, as well as tutorials and summer school for children can be accessed through the Unit.
Women’s Empowerment Initiatives
Our special focus on women of all ages and life stages is designed to help them take charge of their lives and effect change in their own communities through productive action.
Weekly gatherings and lectures about hygiene, nutrition, medical issues, social relationships, family planning and mother-child relationships constitute the core subjects discussed throughout the year. Armenian cultural heritage, traditions, and celebrations are also part of the group sessions.
Child Development Initiatives
Our summer school and tutoring programs are designed to advance school age children both academically and socially so they may become active leaders and responsible citizens.
Other Units:
- Social Service (Case Work)
- Social Service (Group Work) & Advocacy
- Employment Office
- Summer School
- Vacational Trainings & Developement
To help prevent struggling students from dropping out of school, the Association has created a special nine-month program for youth of various grade levels and diverse backgrounds. Our free afterschool, open between 3:30 and 6:30 pm, offers tutoring to students enrolled at schools in the area. They receive the homework help and special attention for which they would otherwise not have the means. Parent-tutor meetings and in-school visits are also in place to follow up on each student’s academic and behavioral progress.
Study Room teachers also organize recreational activities such as field trips, talent shows, birthday and holiday celebrations and more to create a nurturing environment that embraces each student with heartfelt warmth and genuine interest. This is especially important for students suffering from medical, psychological, emotional and learning disabilities who need a home away from home. Treating them like family, which for some is their only sense of belonging, can make a world of difference in keeping youth on the right path.
Our regular health supervision in Armenian schools identified children in need of special educational support. These cases either were referred to us by school principals and teachers, or we detected them through our routine health supervision. To address their needs, we have a comprehensive follow-up program with our team of psychologists, speech therapists, and special educators, among others. The unit continues to expand, relying on a well-organized intervention system that includes prevention and awareness, intervention and follow up.
The cases detected so far involve:
- Difficulties learning basic skills such as reading, writing, understanding or processing basic information.
- Emotional and social issues, such as difficulties making friends, relating to adults or behaving improperly in school.
- Sensory or physical needs, such as hearing or visual impairment.
- Communication problems in expressing themselves or understanding what others say.
- Special medical or health conditions, which may slow down their progress and / or involve treatment that affects their education.
Additionally, within this unit, the team works covers:
- Case Work (Case Assessment)
- Case Work (Case Intervention)
- Group Work
- Advocacy Sessions and Seminars
OTHER SERVICES
In addition to our extensive services in Beirut, we also have clinics in the Bekaa Valley in Lebanon.
Karagheusian Ainjar Medical Clinic
The Medical Clinic in Ainjar was established in Ainjar village in the 1940s. The Near East Relief Foundation, together with the HILFSBUND mission, was actively involved in supporting the Armenians to establish a healthy and vibrant community. Karagheusian Association then took over Near East Relief Center and started operating as a medical and social center.
Ainjar Pediatric Clinic
Revived in 2011, the Ainjar Pediatric Clinic has an attending doctor who visits on a regular basis and, since 2019, has provided vaccinations supplied by the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, to children.
Ainjar School Health Program
Our health supervision program entails visits to three schools and two boarding schools in Ainjar, attending to the needs of 428 students. The Association’s School Health team performs general check-ups by a pediatrician, while two nurses conduct vision tests.
Ainjar Dental Clinic
The community in Ainjar receive dental treatments from a local dentist who visits the clinic three days per week and is under the direct supervision of the Association’s team of dentists.
Ainjar Ophthalmology Clinic
Once a week, the Association’s ophthalmologist in Beirut visits the Center in Ainjar to offer his services to school children, their teachers, and a number of adults. Eyeglasses and further treatments are referred to our ophthalmologic service in Beirut.
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE UNIT
The Association focuses on both individual and group case work, relying on professional social workers to ensure the healthy development of children.
Our social work interventions are designed to determine what basic care and assistance may be needed. Case workers use their listening skills to provide emotional support as well as make referrals to other professional agencies with specific competencies. Alternatively, the Group Work Program mainly involves professionally guided group therapy sessions to tackle different issues related to family dynamics, adolescence, and other mental health and psychological concerns.