In the quiet village of Dsegh in Armenia, nestled among the green mountains of Lori, lives Armine – a nurse, a confidant and a friend to all. For more than 35 years, she has been a steady presence that people in her community turn to, both in sickness and in health.
Born and raised in Dsegh, Armine never left the place that shaped her. Every morning, as the first rays of sunlight touch the mountains, she begins her day with the same purpose she has carried for decades: to protect and nurture the health of her community. “Health is not everything, but without health everything is nothing,” she says with a gentle smile, recalling how, as a little girl, she dreamed of wearing a white gown and holding a patient’s hand.
Her days are filled with planned visits, home calls and friendly conversations. Sometimes, the first call of the day is not about medicine at all. It’s a neighbour who needs to talk, share a worry or celebrate a small joy. Armine listens, always. For her, being a nurse is more than a job – it’s about being a bridge of trust between people and the health system.
A first line of defence
There are painful memories, too, moments when, despite best efforts, a life could not be saved. But there are also triumphs – a patient revived from unconsciousness, a newborn who took their first breath after a tense struggle. Those moments, she says, are the heart of her work.
Armine serves 7 villages which are home to around 770 people, spanning 3 generations. She knows them all by name, knows their stories and their lives. Each home visit is not just about providing medical attention, but also compassion and empathy. “The love of my patients and my optimism give me strength,” she reflects.
When she feels tired, she retreats to her flower garden, where she regains her peace before returning once again to care for others. Armine believes deeply in the power of primary health care – the first line of defence for every community. Timely vaccinations, preventive care and immediate response, in her view, often mean the difference between life and death. Armine’s dedication to her profession keeps her community healthy, hopeful and strong.
Quality, affordable care for everyone
Armine and nurses like her are the vital first link between people and health systems and the backbone of universal health coverage (UHC), ensuring access, promoting prevention, reducing inequalities, empowering communities and strengthening primary care.
To strengthen that first link, the Ministry of Health of Armenia and WHO, alongside the European Union (EU), are working together to build a more robust foundation for primary health care – the cornerstone of UHC and a healthier Armenia.
This collaboration is part of the EU-funded project “Health Resilience in the Eastern Partnership,” a multiyear collaboration with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Enlargement and the Eastern Neighbourhood to promote health system resilience in the 5 countries in the Eastern Partnership, including Armenia.
The programme lays the foundations for quality, affordable care for everyone everywhere in Armenia through a review of regulations and licensing of health workforce, leadership training for policy-makers, health labour market analysis, workforce forecast and planning, as well as a review of workforce migration and retention policies.