Child Wellness Center opened for service at Çukurova University

Child Wellness Center opened under the leadership of Çukurova University, will provide all psychological and orthopedic rehabilitation services free of charge for children who lost their limbs in the earthquake. Speaking at the opening, Çukurova University Rector Prof. Dr. Meryem Tuncel said, "We aim to be an institution that shapes the future of our children. The success of this center will be possible with the unity and solidarity of the society." Founder and Honorary Chairperson of Fiba Group and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Hüsnü Özyeğin Foundation Hüsnü Özyeğin said: "I find it very important that this project, which we are very proud to be a supporter of, where many national and international institutions and scientists will work together only for the benefit of children, is realized as a multi-stakeholder structure in the light of science."

Child Wellness Center, which will provide free orthotic prosthesis and psychological rehabilitation services to children who lost their limbs in the earthquake, was put into service within Çukurova University. The opening ceremony of the temporary building of the center was held with the participation of Çukurova University Rector Prof. Dr. Meryem Tuncel, Founder and Honorary Chairperson of Fiba Group and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of Hüsnü Özyeğin Foundation Hüsnü Özyeğin, Vice Chair of Fiba Group Ayşecan Özyeğin Oktay and protocol members.

Under the leadership of Çukurova University, with the support of Fiba Group and Hüsnü Özyeğin Foundation, and in cooperation with national and international medical associations, the Child Wellbeing Center aims to provide holistic care and rehabilitation services free of charge to all children and young people under the age of 21 who were affected by the February 6 earthquakes. Designed with all the needs of children and their families in mind, the center will serve all the necessary devices and equipment for physical and psychological rehabilitation under a single roof with its 800m2 building built on an area of 1500 m2. Those who want to get support for prostheses, education scholarships, rehabilitation, psychological support and vocational training needs can apply at www.cocukiyilikmerkezi.org. The number of children supported by the center, which started to serve in its temporary building, has already reached 133.

"This center will help children grow up as healthy, happy and independent individuals who can easily participate in life"

In her opening speech, Çukurova University Rector Prof. Dr. Meryem Tuncel stated that children were one of the most affected people by the February 6 earthquakes:

"Science is a guide for humanity and societies invest in science to improve and develop human life. Child Wellness Center is an extremely valuable project created to realize this purpose. This center will support our children, who are the most vulnerable members of our society, in the challenging process they go through and help them grow up as healthy, happy and independent individuals. Our center provides free of charge all the rehabilitation needed by children and young people up to the age of 21 who have been affected by disasters and catastrophes within the borders of the Republic of Türkiye, anywhere in our country. However, this center is not only a treatment center but also has an important mission of preparing and educating our children for disasters. We aim to be an organization that shapes the future of our children. In addition to helping them overcome their traumas and heal their physical and psychological wounds, we provide scholarships for their education and support them to continue their education. Child Wellness Center is a good example of our society coming together to change the lives of our children and give them hope. The success of this center will be possible with the unity and solidarity of the community. To keep this solidarity alive with our permanent building, I invite all institutions, especially the private sector, to support our center."

"With the Child Wellness Center, we aim to heal wounds and raise hopes"

Stating that for 33 years they have been working to contribute to the social and economic development of our country, Hüsnü Özyeğin Foundation Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Hüsnü Özyeğin said:

"It has been about 9 months since the February 6 earthquakes, one of the biggest disasters our country has ever experienced. It is of course impossible to forget this painful experience no matter how much time passes. We must heal the wounds of this pain and always work to raise hope. This is why we are together today. When we looked at the scale of the February 6 earthquakes, we had put the idea of a center focused on child rehabilitation as part of our medium and long-term plan in the early days, based on our previous experiences. When we became aware of Çukurova University's initiatives on the subject, we came together with Dear Rector Meryem Tuncel. Thus, the seeds of the Child Wellness Center were sown. Unfortunately, we know that Türkiye is experiencing neither the first nor the last disaster. We must be better prepared and better equipped for these disasters in every sense. We should do this primarily with knowledge and science. For this reason, we find it important that the project is not only a project for children affected by the February 6 earthquake, but also sets out with the vision of becoming a center of excellence in Türkiye and the region."

Emphasizing that the coming together of scientists and stakeholders from different specialties in the face of a painful reality such as an earthquake is one of the best examples of solidarity in our country, Özyeğin expressed his belief that the number of supporters will increase for the construction of the permanent center and that work will begin rapidly with the support of the private sector.

'Center of Excellence' that will carry tomorrow's technology to today

It is also aimed to position the Child Wellness Center as a 'Center of Excellence' that will meet long-term needs in the region and create an important platform for R&D studies and scientific research. One of the most important goals of the Child Wellness Center will be the coordination of scientific studies to be carried out in the areas it serves.

Vocational training will also be provided

The Child Wellness Center provides orthopedic and psychological support to all children and young people under the age of 21 affected by the earthquake with the most advanced technology, as well as all the health services, education and vocational training they need. Those in need of the center's services can apply through the website cocukiyilikmerkezi.org and receive pediatric, orthopedic and physical rehabilitation as well as psychological and psychiatric support. After the completion of their treatment, they can benefit from educational support, special education services and vocational training in their region.

The supporters of the Child Wellness Center, which was launched under the leadership of Çukurova University, include Hüsnü Özyeğin Foundation and Fiba Group, Çukurova University Industry Cooperation Foundation, Turkish Pediatric Association, Turkish Pediatric Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care Association, Bridge To Türkiye Fund, Turkish Philanthropy Funds, Banks Association of Türkiye and Association of Turkish Associations in USA.