Abstract:

When the Republic of Turkey was established, the epidemic diseases in Anadolu, which was destroyed as a result of long and tired wars, were just going on. The people of Anatolia were unable to reach hospitals and medications in a great disaster. The public health services have been highlighted by the Republic. Between 1923-1930, which could be called the Early Republic Period, the whole ministry in the field of health was spent in the fight against epidemic diseases. In this period, the most common diseases were: scratch, scratch, flower, red, trauma, difteria and verema. In the central and northern parts of the country, frengi was observed, and in the south, trahoma was observed. In the period 1923-1930 delegations were established to combat infectious diseases. The reports of the epidemic from the provinces were taken into account and medications, vaccines, serums and doctors were sent to the places where the disease was observed. The production of the vaccines, which played an important role in the struggle, was made by the government's hand. The drugs that were not produced in Turkey were imported from abroad. In 1930, according to the experience obtained from the field work, the Public Health Act was issued. The fight against infectious and epidemic diseases has been placed on the ground by this regulation. This study discussed the fight against infectious diseases in Turkey in the period 1923-1930; archive documents, newspapers and inspection works were used.

Abstract:

When the Republic of Turkey was established, epidemics were almost running rampant in Anatolia, which had been ruined due to long and tiresome wars. In this great misery, Anatolian people did not have hospitals or medications. With the proclamation of the Republic, a particular importance was given to public health services. Between the years of 1923 and 1930, which can be called the Early Republican Period, all the efforts in the field of health were made for struggle with epidemics. The most encountered diseases inflicting people in this period were malaria, syphilis, variola, scarlet fever, trachoma, diphtheria, and tuberculosis. Syphilis was mostly observed in the central and northern parts of the country, trachoma in the South, and malaria all around. Committees were established to struggle with epidemics in the 1923-1930 period. Medications, vaccines, serum, and physicians were sent according to the reports of epidemics received from provinces. The production of vaccines, which were a critical part of this struggle, was carried out by the state. Medications which could not be produced in Turkey were imported from abroad. In 1930, based on the experiences gained from the field works, the Public Health Law was enacted. With this law, the struggle with contagious and epidemic diseases gained a legal ground. Drawing on archival documents, newspapers, books, and reviews, the current study addresses the struggle made with epidemics observed in the 1923-1930 period in Turkey.

Keywords: