COBANBEY, Syria

The 1st International Marj Dabiq Congress opened Thursday in Cobanbey, northern Syria, which was cleared of terrorists as part of Türkiye's Operation Euphrates Shield.

Jointly organized by Türkiye's University of Health Sciences (SBU), Hatay Mustafa Kemal University, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University and Kilis 7 Aralik University, the congress features 40 expert academics and many students from various regions of Syria.

SBU Rector Kemalettin Aydin told Anadolu that the congress will address problems arising from migration and the region's conflict-ridden environment.

"In eight panels, nearly 40 speakers will address topics such as migration and infections, migration and hand hygiene, migration and education, being a mother in such a life, women in migration, pregnancy in migration, the elderly in migration, and social changes," he said.

Aydin also highlighted SBU’s mission to provide health-related education both domestically and internationally, with campuses in places like Somalia, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Cobanbey, Syria.

Addressing health-related migration, he noted: "People will not need to be taken to another country or city for health care services. Our goal is to contribute to making the social, cultural and economic values of this region livable on its own soil by improving the quality of life in the region."

He also provided information about the Cobanbey Medical Faculty established in 2021, saying that students receive an education equivalent to any medical faculty in Türkiye.

"A medical doctor studying at the Cobanbey Medical Faculty will have the same knowledge as their counterparts in Türkiye but will serve their own nation here."

Aydin added that new vocational school departments like patient care, laboratory and radiology would open next year to educate local children as health care professionals.

SBU's Vice-Rector Murat Elevli also highlighted the congress's goal to address health and social issues in the region by experts and boost students' scientific and social confidence.

"We will encourage scientific presentations and conduct a student congress as a rehearsal," he said.

Elevli added that the professors are among Türkiye's most distinguished academics, aiming to educate students to contribute to the local health care system.

"Health problems are similar and common in many parts of the world, with local issues mainly concerning epidemiologically significant infectious diseases.

"We will continue to contribute to the development of this area in both medical and other health-related fields, including new programs at the health services vocational school and increasing the quota of medical students," he said.

*Writing by Gizem Nisa Cebi in Istanbul