The Portable Laboratory in Usage
After spending three years in developing the Portable Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, in August 2015 ATG President James Reynolds, DVM / MPVM and Executive Director Varoujan Der Simonian, MA delivered the world’s first prototype portable lab to Armenia.
In placing a plaque on the P.V.D.L.’s hard-shell suitcase, Dr. Reynolds said: “This is in memory of Dr. Arthur O. Hazarabedian, D.V.M., for his devotion to the advancement of veterinary medicine and to the service of the people of Armenia and humanity.”
A graduate of U.C. Berkeley in Agricultural Economics, and from U.C. Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Hazarabedian had served for nine years as the Chairmen of California and National Board of Examiners.
After seeing the PVDL and participating in the hands-on field-use of the model, officials in Armenia were VERY keen to secure additional PVDLs for their country. They have had a pressing need to quickly diagnose animal diseases that can also affect human health. Working with ATG, they identified the 7-10 regions they deemed had a high priority for diagnostic attention.
They realized that with the modern equipment in their possession, local veterinarians will now be able to help farm families increase their economic base even while limiting the transmission, to humans, of infectious animal diseases.
Delivering Three Additional Portable Laboratory
Hence, in 2016, we placed three additional PVDLs along Armenia’s borders where most of the human and animal interactions take place. Currently there are four PVDLs in Armenia.
Work in Progress
Currently ATG is in the process of preparing additional PVDLs to deliver to Armenia in 2017.
Why Armenia
The Armenian agricultural community is composed, overwhelmingly, of small family farms found throughout the country side. Roads connecting farms and villages are still often insufficient. As a result cattle, sheep, goats and other livestock receive poor or inefficient diagnostic services. The existence of these small farming operations often house sheep, goats, and swine in extremely close proximity to human living quarters, posing a potential health risk. These animals are used for food production and can, therefor, serve as a source of food-borne infections and are potential reservoirs for zoonotic infections.
On the small farms of Armenia, there is also a lack of information about the infectious diseases in sheep, goats, cattle and swine. The rate of veterinary examination or care these animals receive is unknown. By helping to determine and define the amount of contact and communication between farm owners and veterinary or public health officials, ATG can mitigate disease risks.
ATG is committed to supporting animal and public health and to apply a medically and/or scientifically qualitative, integrative and sustainable approach to the interdisciplinary areas of animal, human and environmental health.