Health Minister Dr. Fahrettin Koca, together with Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar, made statements at the Emergency Coordination Center in Hatay, where search and rescue efforts continue after the earthquakes that affected 10 provinces.
Minister Koca shared the following information about the latest situation, and said that 17 thousand 406 people lost their lives, and 71 thousand 866 people are injured.
Ministry of Health continues to work day and night
Emphasizing that the Ministry of Health continues to work day and night for the evacuation and treatment of the injured with all its manpower and infrastructure facilities, Dr. Koca said, “We have identified a coordination head and two vice presidents from the managers of other provinces to maintain health services in each of the provinces affected by the earthquake. We ensure the coordination with our managers”.
Minister Koca stated that a total of 2,101 ambulances, 296 UMKE vehicles, 5 airplane ambulances, 7 helicopter ambulances and 14,429 emergency medical personnel are currently working in the disaster area, including the teams dispatched to the earthquake zone from all over Türkiye.
Stating that 1859 doctors and specialist doctors and 6 thousand 841 health and support personnel came to the region from other provinces, Dr. Koca said, “In our health facilities in 10 provinces, we have 143 thousand 829 personnel, 17 thousand 929 of whom are physicians and 111 thousand 486 are allied healthcare staff.”
Transfers by air ambulances
Pointing out that the injured citizens, whose treatment could not be completed in the relevant region, have been transferred by air ambulances, Dr. Koca added that:
“We have transported nearly 1500 injured with air ambulances, 13 thousand 370 with land ambulances, and 327 with the Iskenderun ship belonging to the Ministry of National Defense. We set up 77 emergency response units and field hospitals throughout the region. So far, 3 planes, 1 helicopter, 76 trucks, 39 trucks and 38 truckloads of medicines and medical supplies have been delivered to the region. 17 trucks, 15 ambulances, 12 trucks, 25 vehicles, 1 minibus full of medicine and medical supplies are about to arrive.”
“We are determined to put all means at the disposal of our people who have suffered from the disaster”
Minister Koca said that mobile tents and kitchens have been set up to meet the needs of all healthcare professionals, and that they are trying to meet all health-related demands in the region.
Reminding that citizens can access the information of their first and second degree relatives treated in hospitals after the earthquake, through the e-Nabız application, Dr. Koca stated that information can also be obtained from the information lines of the provincial health directorates.
“We will rapidly increase the number of truck and container pharmacies”
Minister Koca stated that psychological support has also been initiated for the injured and that teams have been established to identify the patients and to reach their relatives.
Dr. Koca said, “Our earthquake victims with chronic diseases can obtain their prescribed medicines from pharmacies free of charge. Truck and container pharmacies established at different points in 5 provinces have started to serve and we will be increasing their numbers rapidly. Our citizens will be able to obtain the medicines they need from our Field Hospitals.”
Dr. Koca stated that 5 field hospital units have been established for emergency patients, a field hospital where full-fledged surgeries can also be performed provides services, and there is a field hospital for emergency patients in the partially damaged Altınözü Hospital.
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