Assessing Medical Needs in Türkiye

Medical Relief is Key

With tens of thousands of people injured from the earthquake, one of the main needs is medical assistance. The local hospital in the impact area was destroyed, and many people lost their prescriptions and medicine during the quake when their homes were destroyed.

That’s where the Operation Blessing medical team comes in. We have the unique opportunity to show the people of Türkiye that someone cares, offering tangible help and hope in the way they need it most.

Already, we have people on the ground in hard-hit Hatay assessing the level of need as we seek to build an appropriate response that will best serve the hurting. We have also begun to help some of the people we encounter during our assessment process. Dr. Gustavo Angel, our medical professional on the ground, has shared with us some of the difficulties early patients are facing.

Operation Blessing Assessing Medical Needs in Türkiye

The doctor assisted one 70-year-old man whose body was simply overwhelmed by shock. He described it this way: “They have lost everything right now. So they are living on the street in a tent camp. So, the weather and the fear is generating spasms in his muscles. He has like an aftershock anxiety. He’s been traumatised and shocked with pain.”

Doctor Gustavo also shared his hope that we will very shortly expand our medical efforts in the country.

For now, most of the people need help with chronic disease treatment because there are no working clinics or hospitals nearby, meaning they have to travel at least an hour and a half to get any sort of medical assistance. We’re encountering elderly people suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease complications. And they need immediate assistance.

With the help of committed and compassionate friends like you, we can be the difference for the suffering in this critical hour.

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