Hatay Statement by the Belgian Minister of Health

Belgian Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke expressed his satisfaction with the work of the field hospital they set up in Hatay after the earthquakes with epicenter in Kahramanmaraş that occurred on February 6, saying that they treated more than 1,500 people in the hospital in two weeks.

Vandenbroucke made an assessment of the activities of the field hospital he established in the Kırıkhan district of Hatay, which was affected by the earthquakes, the epicenter of which was Kahramanmaraş. Minister Vandenbroucke said: “We are very satisfied with the activities of the field hospital that we have established. Our staff treated more than 1,500 patients in two weeks. That’s why I think it’s very beneficial to be there.”

Stating that this is the first time Belgium has carried out such a mission in another country after a natural disaster, Vandenbroucke said: “Obviously, it was not an easy task. “We had never done this before, so it was a learning process,” he said. Vandenbroucke, expressing the need to be in close contact with the health system authorities in Turkey, said: “Everything went well. Cooperation with local authorities is very good, ”he said.

The Belgian Health Minister indicated that the second shift began after the 76-person team returned to the country yesterday for the first rotation and it is not yet known how long the field hospital will be active. (AA)