Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, organized the "OMU Diabetes Forest Sapling Planting" event to raise awareness about diabetes under the theme “Breath Today, Breath Tomorrow.”

The event, held in the garden of the Faculty of Education on the Kurupelit Campus, was attended by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ayşe Pınar Sumer, General Secretary Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erhan Burak Pancar, Dean of the Faculty of Education Prof. Dr. Hamza Çalışıcı, Chief Physician of the Faculty of Medicine Hospital Prof. Dr. Ünsal Özgen, Deputy Chief Physicians Prof. Dr. Bahattin Avcı and Prof. Dr. İlker İlhanlı, Head of Pediatric Endocrinology Prof. Dr. Murat Aydın, Samsun Forestry Manager Alpaslan Kadı, academics, healthcare workers, students, and diabetic children receiving treatment at OMU along with their families.

Prof. Dr. Aydın: “As long as everything is managed properly”

Prof. Dr. Murat Aydın, Head of the Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, emphasized that the sapling planting program was organized to raise diabetes awareness.

Referring to diabetes not as a disease but as a condition where pre-meal insulin is insufficient, Aydın stated:

"We don’t call it a disease because it’s a situation where insulin is administered due to insufficiency before meals. As long as everything is managed properly—eating balanced meals, avoiding snacks between meals, and regularly administering insulin—everything will be fine. Anyone can pursue the profession or education they desire. Diabetes will not hinder their current or future lives.”

Prof. Dr. Çalışıcı: “Every sapling planted has grown successfully”

Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Dr. Hamza Çalışıcı, noted that 200 saplings were planted in the initial years of the project:

“Every sapling planted has grown successfully. Unfortunately, our Judas trees were lost to a disease. We are reforesting these empty spaces with the support of our students. With today’s saplings, we have completed the area.”

Forest Nursery Manager Kadı: “We are delighted to have participated in this event”

Alpaslan Kadı, Samsun Forest Nursery Manager, mentioned a surprise they had prepared for the children:

"As stated, diabetes is not a disease; we also learned this today, and it was very enlightening. We are delighted to have participated in this event. We prepared a surprise for the children by bringing pistachio saplings for them to plant at home or in their gardens. Hopefully, when these trees grow and bear fruit one day, they will witness those joyful moments."

Supported by the Faculties of Agriculture and Education, the event included planting 20 Judas tree saplings, and 100 pistachio pine saplings were gifted to the children.