Alanya’s Highlands Are Being Ignored: Ambulance Takes 1.5 Hours to Arrive!

Residents of the eastern and western neighborhood highlands reiterate their calls regarding healthcare services and ambulance availability in their regions. The neighborhood residents and local headmen have once again appealed to the authorities to activate the long-delayed healthcare services in their areas as soon as possible.

Citizens and headmen living in the eastern and western highland neighborhoods of Alanya have once again raised their voices regarding healthcare services, which have been awaiting solutions for years. Especially during summer, when the population in the highlands increases, neighborhood representatives complain about the inadequacy of healthcare services and urgently request the provision of ambulances and health clinics.

Speaking to Alanya Postası Newspaper, Karakocalı Neighborhood Head Şerafettin Yiğit said:

“Four years ago, we had stationed two ambulances in Gökbel. They were operational and served about 20 nearby regions. However, after the elections, the ambulances did not return. I fought hard for this, but I couldn’t bring them back. This is one of my biggest regrets. I hope this service returns soon. We have no security problems. Our teams patrol the neighborhood constantly.

When we call, the teams are immediately by our side. But definitely, ambulances and a health clinic are our biggest demand. The health clinic building in Gökbel has everything needed. We submitted a petition to our Ministry of Health, but got a negative response. We want the authorities to hear our voices now.”

“AMBULANCE ARRIVES IN 1.5 HOURS”

Şıhlar Neighborhood Head Hilmi Türker said, “We have problems with ambulances. In case of any accident, an ambulance arrives in our area in 1.5 hours. They have trouble finding the address. We have many problems in healthcare.

Our citizens always have to go to the Training and Research Hospital. Many elderly citizens need to use prescribed medicines. They face many difficulties without reports. We are very disturbed by this. Services in Çayarası have been reduced.”

“REGIONAL HOSPITAL IS A MUST”

Demirtaş Neighborhood Head Ali Mecek emphasized their demand for a regional hospital, saying, “Demirtaş is the center for 23 neighborhoods.

We have an ambulance and a health clinic here, but a regional hospital is needed between parts of Mahmutlar and Uğrak. Since people migrate to the highlands in summer, the 112 emergency number must be activated in Çayarası.

The health clinic is still closed and there was no 112 service. We, as neighborhood heads, have already drafted a petition and will submit it to the Ministry of Health. Karapınar is 50 km, Başköy 25 km, Uğrak 20 km away, and it’s hard to intervene there quickly.”

“BEING IGNORED”

Karapınar Neighborhood Head Fatih Yılmaz said, “We submitted our petitions on this matter. I think the Çayarası region established before was a wrong choice. Karapınar is a neighborhood, but it is a highland. It was illogical to establish a facility in the highlands bypassing a neighborhood.

We live in the region year-round. Sometimes, I personally transport patients. The facility must be established in Karapınar as it is the largest in the region. We serve as the headmen of 13 neighborhood highlands. We have an empty school building in our area which we could provide. We have space but it is not being utilized. We are being ignored.”

-Fatma Bedia UYAR