Türkiye’s strong health system has helped upgrade the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ health system, President Ersin Tatar said on Thursday as he addressed participants of Türkiye’s 66th National Paediatrics Congress taking place in Girne.
Türkiye’s 66th National Paediatrics Congress got underway in Girne on Thursday.
1450 doctors and health workers are participating at the congress being held at the Elexus Hotel.
Among those attending the opening was President Ersin Tatar, Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca and TRNC Health Minister İzlem Gürçağ Altuğra.
Speaking at the congress, President Ersin Tatar highlighted the importance of holding such an organisation in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
“The TRNC is undergoing great development. As a Turkish state in the Eastern Mediterranean that hosts such meetings and as an island of education and tourism, we see how bright our future is,” he said.
Tatar also said that it was everyone’s duty to work on environmental issues which he said was vital for the health of infants and children.
Türkiye’s Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca who also spoke at the congress’ opening said that his ministry will continue to support the TRNC in the field of health.
He also said that the construction of the 500 bed new state hospital had been delayed for various reasons but promised that the tender would be completed soon and work would commence in the near future.
Koca then briefed participants on the health policies being pursued by his ministry.
Also delivering a speech at the congress opening, Health Minister İzlem Gürcağ Altuğra expressed her happiness for being able to hold such a congress after three years of Covid-19 restrictions and measures.
Altuğra said that the TRNC had managed the pandemic successfully as a result of the support provided by the Turkish Health Ministry, providing critical medical supplies, vaccines and constructing an emergency hospital despite all the shortages experienced globally.
She explained that the emergency hospital had been converted into a paediatrics department as a result of a drop in daily Covid numbers.
“We will now be able to provide better health care for children and new born babies”, she said.