Police prevent health workers’ protests in İstanbul, Diyarbakır
* Photo: Siyasi Haber
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Representatives from the İstanbul Medical Chamber, İstanbul Dentists' Chamber, İstanbul Pharmacists' Chamber, İstanbul Veterinarians' Chamber, Progressive Healthcare Workers Union (Dev Sağlık-İş) and All Radiology Technicians' Association (Tüm-Rad-Der) came together in front of the İstanbul Provincial Health Directorate earlier today (April 15).
Their statement for the press raising concerns over the increasing number of COVID-19 cases and deaths has been prevented.
Setting up barricades, the police informed the groups that the press statement was banned by the İstanbul Governor's Office.
Informed about the ban of the Governor's Office, physicians attempted to hold their press statement nearby Çemberlitaş tram station. However, the police prevented the statement. Labor Party of Turkey (TİP) Chair and İstanbul MP Erkan Baş had a row with the police.
'They try to manage perceptions'
Holding a banner that read "We don't give up our right to life, stop deaths", healthcare, labor and professional organizations started to read out their statement at Sultanahmet. Underlining that the government is trying to manage perceptions rather than managing the outbreak, İstanbul Medical Chamber Executive Board member Dr. Güray Kılıç read out the statement.
"The government is turning a deaf ear to the voice of professional organizations, it is acting in conformity with the interests of the capital. This package of measures is a package of stalling people," Kılıç said.
Underlining that the government "puts the blame on people by using the rhyme of mask, distance, hygiene" when the outbreak becomes unmanageable, Kılıç noted that for the past year, since the pandemic broke out, they have tried to say the unsaid and show the unshown as required by their profession and professional organization.
According to Kılıç's statement, even though they requested appointments from the Health Ministry, their requests have been left unanswered.
"We have warned through the media, we said what needs to be said, but we were not heard," he protested.
"We are here today, because you have no chance to not see it or to not hear it. We are here today, because we cannot stand seeing deaths any longer, we cannot stand seeing our colleagues burning out."
Dr. Kılıç also raised concerns that "the COVID-19 is now seeing its third and biggest peak as it cannot be taken under control with deficient, wrong and inconsistent policies and poor outbreak management."
"You are late, you did not prevent deaths. In the current situation when we lose our hundreds of people everyday, urgent steps must be taken."
Health workers protested in Diyarbakır
The protest to be staged by Amed Health Platform in southeastern province of Diyarbakır has also been prevented by police. The commemoration to be held in front of the Provincial Health Directorate was been allowed to take place because "it was inside the institution."
As reported by Mezopotamya Agency (MA), after the members of the platform were informed that they could hold the commemoration on the sidewalk, they protested and did not hold the ceremony.
A row ensued between the police and the members of the platform who said that union rights were trampled upon.
Protesting the prevention of the police, Health and Social Service Laborers Union (SES) Diyarbakır Co-Chair Şiyar Güldiken said, "We know that health workers lose their lives in this country because the preventive measures are not taken. 403 health workers have died as of today."
The members of the platform then went to the Health Directorate and laid carnations on the desk of Cuma Kurt, a health worker who lost his life. However, the police did not allow journalists to enter the building. Health workers then visited the grave of Kurt. (RT/SD)
