Turkey implements healthcare training and vaccination outreach

In Erzurum, the Turkish Ministry of Health has completed the “Current Approaches from Diagnosis to Treatment” training program for family physicians. Conducted throughout October as part of the “Protecting Health” and “Developing Health” initiatives, the program focused on improving clinical skills regarding chronic respiratory conditions, specifically asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

The training aimed to enhance early diagnosis, patient evaluation, and effective treatment processes at the primary care level, including proper referral procedures to higher-level medical institutions. Academic support for the program was provided by Atatürk University and Erzurum City Hospital.

In Van, health officials are conducting outreach to increase childhood vaccination rates. Dr. Elif Değirmenci of the Healthy Life Center reported that medical staff are engaging with families who are hesitant to vaccinate through phone calls, face-to-face meetings at family health centers, and home visits to ensure children complete their required immunization schedules.