TRNC President Visits Hospital Where Children Were Poisoned by Alcohol

TRNC President Ersin Tatar visited the neonatal intensive care unit of Dr. Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital in Nicosia, where seven infants were poisoned by alcohol last week, tragically resulting in the death of one child.

During his visit, the President met with doctors, nurses, and also spoke with Erol Uçaner, the Deputy Chief Physician and Head of the Emergency Department.

President Tatar expressed his heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery to the families of the affected children and offered his sincere condolences to the family of the deceased infant.

According to the Turkish Cypriot leader, the Ministry of Health and the hospital administration are continuing their investigation to uncover the cause of this devastating incident.

"We are all deeply saddened by this tragic event. It’s a delicate issue, and the investigation must be handled with patience and care," Ersin Tatar remarked.

The President also reaffirmed his trust in the hospital’s staff, expressing confidence in the doctors and medical personnel.

To recap, the incident at the neonatal intensive care unit of Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital in Nicosia occurred last weekend. Seven newborn babies suddenly fell ill, and tragically, one of them could not be saved.

The 20-day-old baby, Mihrimah Toymuradova, had been receiving treatment in an incubator due to premature birth. Unfortunately, the notification of the infant's death reached the Ministry of Health and the relevant authorities with a significant delay—only on Saturday evening.

An investigation into the infant’s death was promptly launched, and the medical staff on duty were immediately suspended.

As the investigation progressed, five healthcare workers were arrested in connection with the tragedy. They have been charged with "Negligence" and "Failure to Take Precautionary Measures." The police revealed that the investigation found ethyl alcohol had been mixed into the infants' food.