CCTV footage of two nurses in Turkey during the earthquake earlier last week has surfaced on the web. They were seen going out of their way to protect the NICU babies by holding the incubators while the earth was shaking.
Nurses Act Of Bravery
There’s a saying that always has been around stating, “Not all heroes wear capes, some of them wear scrubs.” This heartwarming display has served to remind us all that even in times of immense peril, compassion will prevail.
The video received a broad spread last Saturday when it was shared by Turkish politician, Fatma Sahin on Twitter. Footage from Inayet Topcuoglu Hospital in Gaziantep shows nurses named Devlet Nizam and Gazwl Caliskan rushing to enter the NICU.
Sağlıkçılarımız şahane insanlar👏#GaziantepBüyükşehir İnayet Topçuoğlu Hastanemiz yenidoğan yoğun bakım ünitesinde, 7.7’lik #deprem esnasında minik bebekleri korumak için Hemşire Devlet Nizam ve Gazel Çalışkan tarafından gösterilen gayreti anlatacak kelime var mı?
— Fatma Şahin (@FatmaSahin) February 11, 2023
🌹🌼💐👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/iAtItDlOwb
This is just after the tremors of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake. The nurses sprung into action, standing with their arms outstretched to protect the incubators from sliding across the room. With an iron grip on each bed, they made sure nothing was moved during prodding tremors.
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What People Are Saying On Social Media
People from all corners of the internet are abuzz with chatter about this touching video. Social media users everywhere have been expressing their admiration and shock over the incredible acts of courage displayed by these healthcare workers.
One commenter from Reddit said, “Man imagine being the mom of those babies. I’d be so grateful. I can’t imagine the agony of not knowing while it’s happening.”
Another replied to Sahin’s tweet saying that these women deserve recognition.
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The Earthquake
The 7.8 magnitude earthquake that hit happened on February 6 at 4:17 am local time, in southeastern Turkey, and Syria. It wasn’t long before another 7.5-magnitude aftershock hit Gaziantep and affected many people again. Gaziantep is home to over 2 million residents making it the 6th largest city.
According to CSIS, Gaziantep is one of the most economically and politically important cities in Turkey. Recent events have caused them to have even more difficulty in providing healthcare services.
Healthcare Amidst The Calamity
At least 19,300 earthquake victims are under treatment in hospitals in Turkey, according to the Ministry of Health. Around 3,636 people are currently in ICU. At least 8,851 patients had surgery according to statistics. Some have already been discharged from the hospital and others are still in recovery.
Doctors Without Borders members in Syria and Turkey worked together to save people after the earthquake hit. They provided emergency care for those who needed it most. Many more innocent lives were lost and the death toll is still rising as bodies are recovered. Two DWB members died, while others have lost loved ones.
They’ve been supporting health facilities in Aleppo and Idlib governorates across Syria. They have helped treat 3,465 injured people and reported 551 deaths. According to reports, they were able to help over 200 patients in the first hours after the quakes. The team also is supporting the mobile clinics while initiating psychological first-aids.
The World Health Organization is warning that the situation in Turkey and Syria will be long-term, with a lot of unforeseen consequences to people’s health. The quake has killed thousands and destroyed countless buildings in the region. As a result, this will have tremendous impact on public health such as dehydration, malnutrition, and sanitation.
Spokesperson Margaret Harris said in an interview that WHO is implementing resources to help with surgical and traumatic injuries. They’re also providing assistive technologies such as wheelchairs to help people resume their lives in new ways.
Conclusion
As nurses, we can do our part to respond to the crisis in Turkey and Syria by raising awareness and taking action. We have the opportunity to join humanitarian services by connecting with organizations that are raising funds for disaster relief and giving any kind of help that is possible.
In the midst of such tragedy, hope remains for increased awareness and preparedness within our healthcare system. Hospitals have established protocols to attempt to minimize any potential damage during these disasters. However, no one can truly tell the impact when faced with an unforeseen catastrophe.