Medical Ministry International in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, the nation and former Soviet republic, is bounded by the Caspian Sea and Caucasus Mountains, which span Asia and Europe. Its capital, Baku, is famed for its medieval walled Inner City. The country has a population of approximately 9.6 million with an average life expectancy of 68 years for men and 74 years for women, which is quite reasonable aligned with the development of the country.
Since the establishment of the Caspian Compassion Project (CPP) which aims to promote health care activities in Masazır, Baku, the association MMI Azerbaijan has developed a dedicated team of local staff that serves people in this region.
Elena Filippova has been working with Medical Ministry International in Azerbaijan since 1996 and became the Executive Director of Caspian Compassion Project in 1999. Elena is originally from Azerbaijan and graduated from Azerbaijan State University in mathematics. Together with Tofic Teymurov, they are leading CCP and are Medical Ministry International project directors for “Eye Surgeries in Azerbaijan.”
Elena Filippova, Executive Director, CCP
Tofic Teymurov - Chair, Board of Directors, CCP
Permanent Centre of Caspian Compassion Project
In 2001, Medical Ministry International obtained the original grant for the land purchase, clinic construction, and equipment. CCP bought 3.18 hectares in Masazır settlement, Absheron district in order to construct a new facility of its own.
The clinic of CCP is located 30 min from the center of Baku. It is a good facility consisting of two floors and was built in 2006-2007. There is a sufficient operation area, several consultation rooms, and an administration area.
CCP (Caspian Compassion Project) Centre, Masazır, Azerbaijan
This project is also designed to work alongside local doctors, to increase both practical experiences and learning in a classroom setting. Other local organizations like Caledonian Society, Starling Group, and Garadagh Cement also joined Medical Ministry International in donating for the clinic construction. Since September 2007, CCP continues its activities in the new permanent facility.
Project Sites:
Masazır is a village and municipality in the Absheron Rayon of Azerbaijan. It has a population of 3,247.
Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. Baku is located 28 meters (92 ft) below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world and also the largest city located below sea level. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, alongside the Bay of Baku. Baku's urban population is estimated at just over two million people. Officially, about 25 percent of all inhabitants of the country live in Baku's metropolitan area.
* Project Description: Project dates are flexible; please inquire. The CCP clinic is located 30 min from the city center of Baku. It is a high quality facility which that was built in 2008 by MMI. The building consists of two floors; an operation area and consultation rooms on the first floor, and an administration area on the second floor. This project is also designed to share experiences with the local doctors, both in the classroom & hands on while doing consolations & surgeries.
Elevation
23m (77 ft)
Climate
Travelling on a Project
About Azerbaijan
COUNTRY BACKGROUND
Azerbaijan - a nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Shia Muslim population - was briefly independent (from 1918 to 1920) following the collapse of the Russian Empire; it was subsequently incorporated into the Soviet Union for seven decades. The official language is Azerbaijani (Turkic language), which is spoken by approximately 92% of the population as a mother tongue. Azerbaijan is home to a vast variety of landscapes; over half of Azerbaijan's land mass consists of mountain ridges, crests, yailas, and plateaus, and the rest of the terrain consist of plains and lowlands. The national animal of Azerbaijan is the Karabakh horse, a mountain-steppe racing and riding horse endemic to Azerbaijan.
LOCATION:
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range.
GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES:
40 30 N, 47 30 E
MAP REFERENCES:
Asia
CLIMATE:
Dry, semiarid steppe
TOTAL AREA:
86,600 km²
BORDER COUNTRIES:
Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Russia, Turkey
COASTLINE:
0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (713 km)
MARITIME CLAIMS:
none (landlocked)
TERRAIN:
Large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland, much of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Karabakh Upland to the west; Baku lies on Apsheron Peninsula that juts into Caspian Sea.
ELEVATION EXTREMES
LOWEST POINT:
Caspian Sea - 28 m
HIGHEST POINT:
Bazarduzu Dagi - 4,485 m
