MEDİNE MAMEDOĞLU

Hatay- In the earthquake zone, people have no access to clean water and hygiene products. In Hatay, one of the cities impacted by two devastating earthquakes that struck Turkey, Kurdistan and Syria on February 6, 2023, many people have to use several portable toilets. The lack of clean water and toilets most affects women. The women suffer from yeast infection and urinary tract infection while the pregnant women have no access to medicines and vaccines to protect themselves from these diseases in the city.

Yaren Dölger, a volunteer nurse, has been working in Hatay and its villages for days to provide health services to the earthquake survivors. She supports women by giving information about how they can protect themselves from diseases and by providing medicine to those suffering from chronic diseases. In the interview with NuJINHA, she gave information about the diseases suffered by women in the earthquake zone.

Lack of environmental hygiene

 “People cannot access clean water and toilets. They do not have environmental hygiene. Due to the lack of underwear, women suffer from yeast infection and urinary tract infection. We try to support women by providing sanitary pads, underwear and clean water. As volunteers, we go to villages to help people,” Yaren Dölger told us.

 ‘Medicines used to treat scabies and lice will be insufficient’

In the city, many people suffer from skin infestations such as scabies or lice. “Due to the lack of environmental hygiene, many people suffer from skin infestations such as scabies or lice. We try to treat these skin infestations; however, people cannot access clean water and toilets. Therefore, such skin infestations spread. The medicines used to treat scabies and lice will be insufficient to treat them due to the lack of clean water and toilets. People urgently need clean water and toilets.”

‘Pregnant women have no access to medicines’

Yaren Dölger also told us that women suffer from infections due to the lack of clean water and toilets, “I do not know what kinds of measures are taken to provide a hygienic environment to the earthquake survivors. We try to help the earthquake survivors but we do not know what the authorities will do. Women need hygiene products such as sanitary pads, underwear and shampoo. There are many pregnant women here. They face serious problems due to the unhygienic environment. They have no access to medicines and vaccines to protect themselves from infectious diseases. Medicines and clean water should be provided to pregnant women. There are field hospitals; however, people cannot go there because of the transportation problem.”