The Ministry of Health made a contract on 3 July with Russian “Cosmopharm” CJSC for the purchase of 75.029 Euro worth baby food not containing phenylalanine. The food was bought in 3 batches` for children up to 1 year old, from 1 to 7 years old and 7-18 years old children.
For children up to 1 year, 157,5 thousand gram was bought, 772,2 thousand gram was bought for children from 1 to 7 years old and 237,5 thousand gram food was bought for children from 7 to 18 years old, respectively 8.032.5 euro, 40.154.4 euro and 26.842.585 euro was paid for those batches. The price does not include taxes and duties.
In the interview with Iravaban.net Gayane Avagyan, the Deputy Chief of HM’s department of Maternal and Reproductive Health mentioned that food not containing phenylalanine is foreseen for children having phenylketonuria problems. Now 53 children in the republic need that food.
The specialist also pointed that in case of phenylketonuria children have inborn lack of some ferments, which causes the organism not to assimilate phenylalanine amino acid, which consequently gathers in the organism and brings forth mental retardation problems. In case of nutrition with this food up to 14-15 years, there will be no danger of having problems in future.
Karine Saribekyan, the Deputy Chief of HM Department of Mother and Child health protection, added that although food without phenylalanine is rather expensive, the state buys and allocates it free of charge to the registered children who need it.
This batch was sent to “Muratsan” hospital complex, and will be allocated to the addressees.
