Two decades of commitment. Over 100,000 smiles healed. A legacy built on love, care, and service. For 20 years, we had the immense honor and responsibility of caring for the oral health of Armenian children in the Republic of Artsakh.
It began with a vision, one shared by the Armenian International Dental Association (AIDA), established in 1995 in Boston, to unite the Armenian dental diaspora around a mission of service. By 1997, that vision took root as we held the first Armenian International Dental Conference in Yerevan and opened our first dental clinic in Lachin.
In 1998, we opened a new dental clinic in Shushi, and in 2004, launched the Hand in Hand NGO to expand our humanitarian mission. The following year, we established free dental clinics in Hadrut and Martuni, building a network of care across the region.
Our Mobile Dental Clinical Program in the Republic of Artsakh
But perhaps our proudest innovation came in 2006, with the launch of the first and only mobile dental clinic in the Republic of Artsakh. This clinic traveled through 11 remote villages, bringing both preventive and curative dental care to children who would otherwise be left without. Until 2023, this mobile unit reached more than 20,000 children per year, totaling over 100,000 consultations in the region.
This was more than healthcare, it was a bridge of compassion, a commitment to equity, and a safeguard for children’s dignity and well-being. We served with no other purpose than to help. We worked in villages, towns, schools, and homes, offering free dental treatment, education, and hope.
But in 2023, our mission in the Republic of Artsakh came to an abrupt and tragic halt. Following the genocide and occupation of the Republic of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, we were forced to end operations. Our clinics in Lachin, Shushi, Martuni, and Hadrut and our beloved mobile clinic could no longer continue. All our assets remain today in the hand of Azerbaijan who de facto seized and stole all that we relentlessly built for decades.
We carry the pain of this loss with us. But we also carry the unbreakable legacy of those 20 years:
- Of the children who smiled without pain,
- Of the parents who found relief,
- Of the volunteers who gave tirelessly,
- Of the spirit of Artsakh that lives in every act of care.
A New Chapter: OHFAR
In 2025, we launch OHFAR, the Oral Health Foundation for Children of Armenia, a new chapter of our mission this time in Armenia. Our goal is to continue what we began in Artsakh: ensuring every Armenian child has access to essential oral healthcare, no matter where they live. We announced our launch in this previous blog post.
The spirit of Artsakh guides us. Its children inspire us. And our mission continues with more resolve than ever.
We honor our past by building the future.
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