Ministry takes action for disasters: 'Public Health Emergency Response' teams to be established

The Ministry of Health's General Directorate of Public Health has sent a letter to the governorships of 81 provinces and provincial health directorates regarding the establishment of "Public Health Emergency Response Teams."

The letter stated that Turkey is located in a geography that is risky in terms of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, landslides, rockfalls, and avalanches, as well as infectious diseases and epidemics. It was noted that the Ministry is conducting comprehensive studies to identify lessons learned in the field of health following disasters and to improve the Ministry's preparedness and response capacity for potential future disasters and emergencies in line with these lessons.

Within the framework of the Ministry of Health's Strategic Plan (2024-2028), "Public Health Emergency Response Teams" will be established within provincial health directorates under the organization and coordination of the General Directorate of Public Health, with the aim of increasing the capacity, accessibility, effectiveness, and quality of primary public health service delivery during earthquakes, global pandemics, and disaster situations.

It is planned that the Public Health Emergency Response teams to be established will serve to ensure the uninterrupted sustainability of public health services provided by the Ministry in emergency public health situations within their own province, in other provinces, and when necessary, outside Turkey's borders, and to take measures against potential public health threats. Personnel serving in these teams are planned to continue their existing duties during non-emergency public health situations.

The Public Health Emergency Response teams will include public health specialists, epidemiologists, field epidemiologists, specialist physicians, physicians, midwives, nurses, health officers, environmental health technicians, psychologists, social workers, IT personnel, and drivers.

It is also planned that those assigned who have not received National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) training will receive UMKE training in coordination with the General Directorate of Emergency Health Services.

Thus, taking into account factors such as the structure of the provinces and the risk of encountering disasters, Public Health Emergency Response teams will be formed within provincial health directorates, with at least one team in each province.

News Source: 12punto