Tunceli is a province in eastern Turkey. It is associated closely with Alevism, as it is the only province in Turkey which has an Alevi majority, many of them speaking Zaza. However, people have not been able to practice their beliefs freely, and many have migrated to Europe.
For many people in western Turkey, Tunceli is a place where there are “troubles,” as they only associate it with the PKK clashes with the army in the mountains.
People wary of Tunceli
When Public Relations Manager Cengiz Inali decided around a month ago that doctors from his hospital, the private Bahar Hospital in Bursa (western Turkey), should celebrate this year’s Day of Medicine by offering health services to a disadvantaged province, many were surprised at the choice of Tunceli. Inali said,
“When we decided to do health checks a month ago, our reason for choosing Tunceli was that there are many prejudices. We saw that there were quite a few doctors going on health checks in different provinces, but Tunceli was never on the list. That city (province) is also part of Turkey, but many people thought it was strange to go. People in other provinces believe that there are battles in Tunceli all the time, that there may be bombs exploding at any moment.”
71 doctors and nurses, 4,470 patients...
The group from Bursa went first to the districts and then to the province capital. They were a group of 71 people, including 41 specialist doctors, general practitioners and nurses.
They examined 4,470 patients in two days. The 30-35 people who need operations will be taken to their own hospital and treated free of charge.
One of the doctors who had come to Tunceli was Mustafa Kolsuz, an eye specialist. He had been chosen “doctor of the year” this year. However, he preferred to go on the visit to Tunceli rather than receive his prize in person from Minister of Health Recep Akdag.
Visit brought affection and understanding
The doctors said that the greatest present they received was the love and affection they were shown by the local population. This helped to break down prejudices which the health workers themselves might have had before coming.
After a breakfast in the capital, the doctors visited a “Cem House,” the place of worship for Alevis. They were able to ask questions about Alevism.
With their visit, the doctors and nurses proved those in Bursa wrong who had said, “They will only protest against you.”(UK/GG/AG)
