Erdoğan speaks at hospital opening in Bağcılar: Supports 'Natural birth is normal birth' banner

President and AKP Chairman Recep Tayyip Erdoğan delivered a speech at the opening of the Bağcılar Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. Erdoğan expressed his support for the highly debated "natural birth is normal birth" banner displayed by Sivasspor players during the Sivasspor-Fenerbahçe match. 

Highlights from Erdoğan's statement: 

"We have mobilized our resources to ensure our people receive the best healthcare services. We say, 'Let the people live so the state may live.' We strive to deliver every service to the most remote corners of our country. We provide the necessary services through our emergency health services and family medicine centers.

We have further expanded our health workforce with 1 million 47 thousand new personnel, including 192 thousand 824 physicians and specialists. We have improved the facilities of our health centers. Today, we provide home healthcare services to over 2 million 841 thousand of our citizens. Preventive health services are another area where we have seen a significant leap. We have increased the number of centers to 286 with the 24 new ones we have opened.

We have launched the Healthy Life Academy in all 81 of our provinces, where we provide training to our citizens in many areas, especially health literacy. In 2002, the bed capacity of public hospitals in Istanbul was only 19 thousand 715. Moreover, a vast majority of these beds were inadequate and substandard. We have increased this number to 30 thousand 706.

By the end of 2025, we will have made a total of 10 thousand 582 public beds available to our citizens in Istanbul. We will also bring 23 health facilities with a capacity of 16 thousand beds, which are currently in the planning stage, to our Istanbul. In 2002, the number of physicians in 217 health centers in Istanbul was only 762. Today, 4 thousand 264 family physicians across Istanbul are working with dedication to assist our patients. We have increased the number of 112 stations from 44 in 2002 to 347, and the number of emergency ambulances to 495. We have reached 5 thousand 506 public specialist physicians across Istanbul. We have increased the number of public nurses to 25 thousand 507. 

While providing services, we worked without looking at anyone's political affiliation. We worked without distinguishing between 'us' and 'them.' We were never satisfied with the mindset that 'this much is enough.' We always aimed for more and kept running. After finishing one task, we immediately rushed to the next. As we increased our country's resources, we also expanded our goals and scale.

The Silvan Tunnel alone demonstrates the difference in understanding between us and the opposition. We read about a new scandal in the press every day. It is being revealed one by one who the resources that should have been spent for Istanbul were handed over to. Normally, someone with a sense of shame should not appear in public. But the leader of the main opposition party tries to lecture others on political ethics. Instead of getting rid of the dead weight in his party, he insults members of the judiciary who pursue corruption, and furthermore, he speaks ill of our ministers. Speaking like a tavern regular is not politics.

Believe me, we are ashamed of what we hear. We feel uncomfortable on behalf of politicians who should set an example for society with their style and careful language, even if they are our political rivals. The opposition has never understood our vision.

THEY THOUGHT OF THEIR OWN INTERESTS 

Certain ideological circles in our country have never understood our horizon. They thought of their own small interests. 

SUPPORT FOR THE CONTROVERSIAL BANNER 

One of our football clubs took to the field with a banner to support the policy carried out by our Ministry of Health. There was no disrespect to anyone in the banner, and there was no situation that would offend women. What was there? There was an intention to draw attention to a very important issue. There was an aim to contribute to the solution of a problem that has become a bleeding wound in our country in recent years. In other words, our club took a very appropriate step. Upon this, the usual circles took action. They targeted our club first, then our Ministry of Health. Then they directed their arrows of criticism at our government and myself. I ask those who are causing an uproar: Why does our Ministry encouraging natural birth bother you? Is it not the duty of the Ministry of Health to protect the health of this nation? 

If there is an abnormality according to the world average, is it not our duty to address it? The scientific data is clear, the situation of the issue when compared to the world is clear, and the fact that our population growth rate is falling is clear. What should we do? Should we not guide society correctly just because you are uncomfortable?

At a time when our population growth rate is sounding the alarm, this is a matter of survival for us. It is an existential threat. Therefore, we will never allow anyone to poison our nation with ideological obsessions and deviant movements that corrupt society. We will maintain our uncompromising stance on this issue."

News Source: 12punto