Field Contacts in Diyarbakir and Malatya by the DAYAN Project Team

As part of the DAYAN Project fieldwork, project researcher Dr. Deniz Birtan conducted visits to healthcare professional organizations and health institutions in Diyarbakir and Malatya. The main purpose of these visits was to reach potential participants and gather preliminary information about the experiences of healthcare workers serving in different provinces affected by the earthquake.

Within this framework, fieldwork was carried out in Diyarbakir between April 4 and 7, 2026. The program first included a visit to the Diyarbakir Branch of the Health and Social Service Workers' Union (SES). During the visit, meetings were held with SES Diyarbakir Co-Chair Mehmet Nur Ulus, Women's Secretary İlknur Ayik, and Dr. Elif Turan. Detailed information was provided about the aim, scope, and method of the DAYAN Project, and institutional support was requested so that the project could reach a wider group of healthcare workers.

The program also included a meeting with Dr. Veysi Ulgen, President of the Diyarbakir Medical Chamber. During this meeting, the content of the project and its research objectives were explained, evaluations related to the field context were received, and possibilities for collaboration to increase the participation of healthcare workers serving in different provinces were discussed.

As part of the DAYAN Project, various institutional field visits were conducted in Malatya between April 9 and 10, 2026. The purpose of these visits was to introduce the project, provide information about the current stages of the research, and obtain institutional support in order to reach potential participants. The program first included a visit to Inonu University Turgut Ozal Medical Center. During the visit, contact was established with healthcare workers serving in outpatient clinics and wards, and comprehensive information was provided about the purpose, method, and current stages of the DAYAN Project. In addition, support was requested to increase participation in the research.

Subsequently, contact was established with the Malatya Branch of the Health and Social Service Workers' Union (SES), and a meeting was held with Women's Secretary Emel Karakus. It was shared that the SES Malatya branch building had been destroyed due to the earthquake and that the allocated container was not actively being used; therefore, it was stated that the meeting could be held within the Egitim Sen Malatya Branch. The meeting was held with the participation of SES Malatya Co-Chair Cansu Kaplan and Women's Secretary Emel Karakus. During this meeting, the DAYAN Project was introduced in detail, and institutional support was requested in order to reach healthcare workers.

The program also included contact with the Malatya Medical Chamber. Since the chamber building had become unusable due to the earthquake and the container setting was not suitable, the meeting was held at the institution where Board Member Dr. Asuman Fatma Kaplan Yilmaz works. During this meeting as well, the purpose and scope of the project were explained, and support was requested in order to increase participation in the research.