Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) signed a cooperation protocol with the Turkish Red Crescent Samsun Branch Presidency in order to meet the material needs and provide moral support for families with babies in financial trouble, as well as children receiving inpatient treatment due to cancer, leukemia and chronic diseases.

The protocol prepared within the scope of the "Sevgi Bahçesi Projesi (Love Bundle Project)" and the "Hoş Geldin Paketi Projesi (Welcome Package Project)" of the Turkish Red Crescent Samsun Branch Presidency, undertaken by OMU Faculty of Medicine Hospital Social Service Specialist Funda Darçın, was signed by Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Ünal on behalf of OMU and was signed by Branch President Ahmet Ali Bulut on behalf of the Turkish Red Crescent with the wish of good luck.

The signing ceremony held at the Rectorate Building was attended by Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Recep Sancak, Prof. Dr. Fehmi Yazıcı and Prof. Dr. Cengiz Batuk, Secretary General Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gençcelep, OMU Faculty of Medicine Hospital Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Fatih Özkan and the employees of OMU Medical Faculty Hospital and Turkish Red Crescent Samsun Branch.

“We Should Encourage Our Students to Participate in Social Welfare Projects”

Expressing that the university students should be included in the social welfare projects as an internship, part-time or voluntary, Rector Prof. Dr. Yavuz Unal said; “ We aim to get our students to participate in social welfare projects and give support not only within the scope of this protocol, but in general. We can do this by adding it as a part of our students' internships, or we can do it through student communities. The collection and distribution of the needs and services of needy people can be coordinated by the students. This will raise awareness among the  students.

Rector Ünal also underlined that additional support can be provided to those in need through cooperation with the other actors of the city.

“While Turkish Red Crescent Donates Aid to the Needy, OMU Donates Science”

Pointing out that while the Turkish Red Crescent donates aid to the needy, OMU donates science to the society, Turkish Red Crescent Samsun Branch President Ahmet Ali Bulut said, “Therefore, it is very natural for these two institutions to sign a protocol. We want to cooperate with the University at the point of distribution of the materials collected here in order to reactivate our boutique in OMU, which has been inactive for a while due to the pandemic. In addition, we will help orphaned or needy patients in OMU Faculty of Medicine with the love bundles we have prepared. I would like to thank OMU Rectorate in advance to support us in this matter.”

Noting that there is complete support from the society to the project OMU Faculty of Medicine Hospital Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Fatih Özkan also said, “If we can realize this potential through Kızılay, it will have serious benefits for our patients.”

“The production of Red Crescent Blood Products will Provide an Additional Income of Approximately 3 billion Dollars Per Year to the Economy”

Emphasizing that the Red Crescent will provide approximately 3 billion dollars income to the economy with the production of blood products, Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Recep Sancak said, “Thanks to the studies on this matter, we support Red Crescent, which has made an important initiative to eliminate the foreign dependency of our country.”

Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Fehmi Yazıcı and Prof. Dr. Cengiz Batuk wished the protocol to be beneficial and noted that social aid is getting stronger every year thanks to the increasing awareness.

Material Need Assistance for the Needy Families

Within the scope of the Turkish Red Crescent Love Bundle Project, clothing and basic baby care needs of 0-3 month old babies who were born in OMU Faculty of Medicine Hospital or the babies getting treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Service will be met. In addition, families will be able to benefit from information and guidance services so that their newborn babies can be cared under appropriate conditions.

“Moral and Material Support for the Pediatric Patients Receiving Treatment at the OMU Faculty of Medicine Hospital”

Within the scope of the Welcome Package Project, gift packages consisting of materials that they may need during the long treatment period in the hospital will be presented to children between the ages of 0 and 17 diagnosed with leukemia, cancer or chronic disease, who are hospitalized for the first time to be treated at the OMU Faculty of Medicine Hospital. With the "Welcome" visit, the project aims to increase the motivation of the patients, and psychosocial support will be provided to facilitate the adaptation and treatment processes of the patients.