6 Babies Born in the Earthquake Zone

Health Minister Dr. Fahrettin Koca gave information about the health activities in the earthquake area at the Disaster Coordination Center in Hatay.

In his statement, Minister Koca said that 13 thousand people, 19 thousand of whom are physicians, are serving in the fixed units in the disaster area.

“With 74 thousand health personnel and 47 thousand other personnel, the number of personnel of the Ministry of Health in the region is approximately 140 thousand. In other words, approximately one out of every 8 relevant personnel of our Ministry is in the disaster area. Have a good heart. As of today, the number of patients hospitalized in 10 disaster provinces due to earthquakes is 6. The total number of inpatients is 108. The total number of patients discharged is 21, with 859 patients discharged yesterday. Just yesterday, 1607 surgical operations were performed. The number of operations carried out since the first day of the disaster is 13. As a result of the experience of our physicians, great successes have been revealed in surgical operations and emergency interventions. On behalf of you, I would like to thank my healthcare workers who dedicate themselves to the continuation of life.”

Minister of Health Koca stated that all units work in a coordinated manner and said, “As of this morning, the number of active service beds is 10 thousand 20 and the service bed occupancy rate is 239 percent in the health institutions of our 60 cities where the disaster was experienced. The number of intensive care beds is 3, and our intensive care occupancy rate is 425 percent. Our dialysis capacity is at a level to meet the needs of our patients. As you know, the adequacy of the dialysis capacity is extremely important in terms of kidney problems that may be experienced by our patients who have been dug out and dehydrated for a long time.

“Our field hospitals are full-fledged hospitals”

Stating that 51 patients and injured people, mostly in the first days, were transferred to hospitals in other cities, Minister Koca pointed out that the number of ambulances still on duty in the region is 152.

Stating that 114 emergency response units and 25 field hospitals were established in the disaster area, 67 thousand 598 patients applied to the emergency units and 3 patients to the field hospitals, Koca said, “459 of our field hospitals are equipped with all the necessary hospital equipment, up to a tomography device, and are special to the time of the disaster. It is like a full-fledged hospital,” he said.

Emphasizing that the transfer of patients to the surrounding provinces decreased with the establishment of these hospitals, Koca stated that there are no capacity problems in health services with the health institutions that continue their activities without interruption and the temporary service areas established.

Stating that health services are tried to be offered to the people living in the disaster villages or going to their villages after the disaster, Minister Koca said, “Health screenings and chronic patient follow-ups are carried out. In 906 villages of Hatay, Adıyaman, Gaziantep and Kahramanmaraş, which are among the cities most affected by the earthquake, 21 thousand 515 sick and injured people have been provided health services and their medicines have been delivered so far. As it is known, this duty is carried out by our mobile health service units that we have established.

Explaining that only in Hatay, 100 ambulances still carry out health screenings in villages, Minister Koca said, “906 family health centers provide service with 2 thousand 940 physicians in the disaster area. Together with these centers, the number of primary health care institutions exceeds a thousand. Only in these primary health care institutions, we have dealt with 221 thousand 799 patients so far. We have established 94 health centers in tent cities right next to earthquake victims and our citizens, and we have served 7 thousand 774 patients so far.”

Measures against epidemics

Emphasizing that their prominent task in the cities affected by disasters is to fight against conditions that may threaten public health, Minister Koca said, “Examples show that epidemics can be painful after disasters such as earthquakes.”

Pointing out that the health of water is one of the foremost conditions of public health, Minister of Health Koca stated that chlorine measurements were made at 1181 points where water was supplied by tankers for this purpose.

“Necessary vaccination against tetanus disease is made”

Underlining that environmental cleanliness, waste collection and prevention of contagious diseases are extremely important, Koca noted that a public health specialist is appointed in all tent cities and that health risks are controlled. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca continued as follows:

“It is the duty of each of us not to cause an epidemic, and the importance we will attach to hygiene as well as the measures taken by the institutions. With this information, I would like you to be relieved that the risks related to possible infectious diseases in the disaster area are now under control with the establishment of an early warning system, the scientific name of which is the surveillance system. Diarrheal diseases, rash diseases, jaundice, flu-like diseases are followed daily and disease signals are monitored. In the ongoing health screenings, 5 thousand 746 people also found intestinal infections, 1483 people had rashes, 103 people had jaundice, 61 thousand 880 people had flu-like diseases and started their treatment immediately.

6 thousand 447 babies were born in the earthquake zone

Minister Koca stated that they reached 44 people in the spiritual and psychosocial support services initiated in the provinces affected by the earthquake.

Noting that 6 babies have been born in the earthquake region since the first day of the disaster, Koca said that every child born is a hope. Wishing these babies a good and long life, Koca emphasized that the necessary health services are provided to the babies and their mothers without interruption.

Fahrettin Koca stated that the number of pregnant observations in the region is 10 thousand 489, the number of postpartum follow-up is 10 thousand 56, the number of baby follow-up is 37 thousand 586, and within the scope of newborn screening, 10 thousand 113 heel blood is taken, 5 thousand 152 babies are screened for SMA and 154 thousand 212 doses are given. He explained that childhood immunization services are continued with the vaccine.

Stating that the professional volunteer power was seen in all teams in this disaster, Koca thanked the UMKE volunteers who ran for duty for 10 provinces. Koca said, “They gave the first medical attention to those who were removed from the rubble. When they found a way, they dared to do the same for those under the rubble. Their mission isn't over. They will continue to work here until life is in order. They are in tent and container cities, they are doing health screening in villages, they are distributing medicines.” said.

“We will continue our search and rescue efforts until the end”

Koca said, “Right now, the signs of life under the rubble may have decreased and hopes may have come to an end, but we will continue our search and rescue efforts until the end. We will complete our task completely in each of the 2947 wrecked buildings destroyed in Hatay. I hope we can give you new good news from the wreckage of 98 buildings where we have done the last work.”