The Burns Supper Committee decided this year to help the Armenian EyeCare project to fight blindness in three communities of Armenia’s border region, Tavush.

Socially vulnerable people from Dilijan, Noyemberyan and Berd communities will have a chance to be eye-screened, treated and, if need, undergo an operation free of charge.  

Vanik Gulinyan, 80, is blind in one eye due to cataract. He came to the Mobile Eye Hospital with a letter from his village mayor. “This letter explains that I have no means to treat my eyes. If it were not for this clinic, I would not even be able to think about an operation”, he says. Now Vanik is preparing for an operation and looks forward to see his grandchildren with new sight.

Every day the EyeCare mobile hospital performs about 15 operations. The inside of the hospital is always packed. EyeCare’s survey shows that 52% of its beneficiaries over the age of 50 have at least one eye-disease that can lead to blindness.

“Blindness has enormous consequences that can condemn individuals to poverty and dependence. Close to 80 percent of blindness can be prevented or treated”, said the National Director of the Armenian EyeCare project Ms. Nune Eghiazaryan.

Roza Khachumyan lives in Aygehovit village near the closed border. Six years ago she underwent an eye operation and is back now for her second eye treatment. “I cannot imagine how I could support my 8-member family without good eyesight. There are so many household issues depending on me!”

About Burns Supper

Every year the Burns Committee and the British Embassy Yerevan organise the highly popular charity event to celebrate the life of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. The event includes Scottish bagpipe music and serving of the traditional Scottish delicacy ‘haggis’.

Attended by many from leading Armenian businesses and the international community, the Burns Supper is known as Yerevan’s most entertaining charity event of the year. Previous Burns Suppers have raised money for many good causes, such as improving conditions and facilities in a number of maternity units around the country, providing specialist toys for children with special needs, and helping poor villagers with the development of their sheep industry.

This year the charity event raised more than 20,000 USD.

About Armenian EyeCare project

Founded in 1992 in the USA, Armenian EyeCare project is fighting with blindness in Armenia for already 15 years.

Among the activities of the Armenian EyeCare project is the Mobile Eye Hospital – a 14-ton state-of-the-art clinic on wheels. The mobile facility houses an operation room and examination rooms providing eye care to thousands each year with no cost to the people. The mobile hospital provides general screening of children and adults, provision of eyeglasses for vulnerable groups, laser treatment and surgery. In 2008, more than 1,000 people underwent surgery or laser treatment, 37,000 were screened, and more than 6,000 were provided with eyeglasses.

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