Following the Success and Moral Responsibility for the Year Awards in the Healthcare Sector ceremony organized by the Marmara Platform of Healthcare Associations on Sunday, Haitian and Ethiopian medical students took the floor and commended the courageous service Turkish doctors have provided for their peoples. Joseph Johnobentz from Haiti stated that Turkish doctors were among the first people to help his quake-stricken country after the disaster. Haiti was hit by a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake on Jan. 12 that left almost 230,000 dead and 300,000 injured, according to the government.Nasreddin Hocari from Ethiopia said they found Turkish doctors always there whenever they needed medical help. “There are at most 3,000 doctors in my country, where various health problems are rampant. We are grateful to those who left their warm homes here and went to my country to serve my people. We would like to see more Turkish hospitals and schools opening in Ethiopia. Today, we need you to look after us. Who knows, perhaps one day, we will look after you, too,” he said, calling on Turkish educational volunteers as well as medics.
The year’s NGO Award was given to the Physicians for Hope Foundation (ÜHDER) for organizing volunteer Turkish doctors to help those in need both in Turkey and abroad. Through ÜHDER-organized projects, the doctors provided medical care for people in several countries including Afghanistan, Haiti and Ethiopia. The Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TİKA) was also given an award at the ceremony for its contributions to the healthcare sector as a public institution.
