The
Jinishian
foundation
has
set
up
a
medical
centre
within
the
Convent
of
St
James,
providing
free
medical
care
and
subsidized
medication
for
all
Armenians.
The
centre
is
staffed
by
a
doctor
and
a
nurse,
and
has
been
instrumental
in
helping
the
community
combat common illnesses.
The
centre
is
part
of
the
Jinishian
Memorial
Program
which
has
been
operating
in
the
Middle
East
since
1967,
and
is
one
of
four
such
sites
in
the
region
where
the
program
also
assists
Armenians
in
community
and
economic
development,
day
care
services,
summer
camps and social work.
In
some
centres,
where
access
to
healthcare
is
difficult
or
unavailable,
the
program
offers
subsidized
medications,
burial
services
and
financial
assistance
for
hospital
care,
dental care and institutional and mental health care.
The
program
is
the
brinchild
of
Vartan
H.
Jinishian,
born
in
1870
in
Marash,
Turkey.
He
was
95
years
old
when
he
established
an
endowment
fund
that
is
fuelling
the
program.