6 February 2023
As part of the project run by the Turkish Beyazay Association and Marmara University under the slogan ‘‘Barrier-Free Health’’, 61 students who learned ‘Sign Language' have begun working in hospitals in Istanbul.
Marmara University lecturer Asst. Prof. Dr. Nuran Akyurt said they had set out with the slogan “Barrier-Free Health” and added: “The essence of the project is to learn sign language so that we can help our patients who are deaf during and after examinations in the Radiology units, and communicate with them in sign language.”
The President of the Turkish Beyazay Association, Lokman Ayva, said: “This is a very fundamental issue. A person who is deaf goes to the doctor. They need an injection, or their blood pressure needs taking, or blood and sugar tests need doing. How will the person doing this treat a patient who is deaf? They will say roll up your sleeve, hold out your finger. They cannot say it. And the other person does not understand what they are saying. That is why the Marmara University School of Health Services showed us understanding in order to solve this basic problem. And our students showed enormous interest.’’