Between 6 February and 27 October 2023, the Ministry of Health carried out 2 Million 741 Thousand 618 health screenings in the villages of the 4 provinces most affected by the earthquake disaster, including 442,833 in Kahramanmaraş, 469,073 in Adıyaman, 233,026 in Gaziantep, and 772,703 in Hatay. After the earthquake, the Ministry took rapid action and provided health services to earthquake victims with the National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) and ambulance units, emergency response units in tents and mobile health service units. Since the first day, 1,810 ambulances, 245 UMKE vehicles, 16 air ambulances have provided service in the provinces affected by the earthquake, while 15,883 UMKE and emergency medical personnel worked actively on the field. UMKE and 112 emergency medical personnel teams, dispatched to the region from across the country, took part in search and rescue efforts in collapsed buildings, installation and operation of emergency response units, and field surveys. A total of 51 thousand 665 patients and injured people were transferred from the region. 2 thousand 580 earthquake victims were transported by air, 48 thousand 758 by land and 327 by sea. While 113 thousand 759 personnel had been working in health facilities located in the earthquake zone, a total of 138 thousand 190 personnel, including 15 thousand 883 UMKE and emergency health services personnel, 21 thousand 204 physicians, 62 thousand 590 allied healthcare staff and 38 thousand 513 support personnel were assigned to work in the region.Health monitoring of 2 million 309 thousand 971 infants and children The number of primary care examinations in the provinces affected by the earthquake exceeded 18 million. Health monitoring of infants and children has been carried out in the earthquake zone, including newborn health monitoring of 170 thousand 480 infants between 6 February and 27 October 2023. Apart from this, 168 thousand 830 infants and children were screened for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a hereditary disease that affects the nerve cells known as motor neurons in the spinal cord, causing the muscles to gradually weaken, and health monitoring of 2 million 309 thousand 971 infants and children was completed. Following the emergency response after the earthquake, vaccination program was launched in the provinces affected by the earthquake within the scope of epidemic prevention. The injured people who were rescued from the rubble and all personnel involved in the debris search were vaccinated against tetanus. In addition to measles, rubella or mumps (MMR), rabies and hepatitis-B vaccines, infant and childhood vaccines were administered within the scope of the Expanded Immunization Programme.211 thousand 374 samples of residual chlorine were measured in the earthquake zone Environmental health teams worked meticulously to determine the usability of mains water systems for control and safety. Samples were taken on daily basis for chlorine measurement. In this context, 211 thousand 374 samples of residual chlorine were measured where 186 thousand 281 residual chlorine measurements were determined to be sufficient, and 25 thousand 93 residual chlorine measurements were determined to be insufficient. The teams engaged in control of mains water systems through chlorine measurement and sampling, and chlorination of tankers in places where there was no mains water system, and detection of deficiencies in water and hygiene by visiting tent cities.
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