A new hospital complex opened Sunday in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’ (TRNC) capital city Lefkoşa (Nicosia) to assist in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the opening ceremony of Lefkoşa Emergency Hospital during his visit to the TRNC and the long-abandoned town of Varosha (Maraş) on the occasion of the country’s 37th foundation anniversary.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony Erdoğan said that the new hospital is a sign of solidarity with the TRNC, adding that from the very beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Turkish officials “rushed to the aid of our brothers in Northern Cyprus,” providing all kinds of support in the field of health.
“Without our unity with the TRNC, we would not have completed this hospital in as little as 45 days. The most important sign of solidarity with the TRNC is this emergency hospital,” Erdoğan said, adding that Ankara has provided TL 149 million ($19 million) in aid to the country during the coronavirus pandemic. He went on to say that a 500-bed hospital would also soon be opened in the TRNC.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, who also attended the opening ceremony, said the new hospital will be an exceptional building block that will strengthen the health system of the TRNC.
“I believe that both health facilities will perform an important service in meeting the health needs of our Turkish Cypriot brothers,” he added.
