As the leading organizations representing the child neurology community, we stand in solidarity with our child neurology colleagues, their patients and families in Türkiye and Syria who have experienced the traumatic and incomprehensible destruction caused by last week’s earthquake. We acknowledge the tremendous loss and their instability in daily lives. We aim to ensure they do not feel alone as they take initial steps in the coming weeks and months to rebuild their sense of normalcy. Together, we are all child neurology.
While the situation in Türkiye and Syria continues to evolve, we would like to encourage all members of the global child neurology community – clinicians, families, philanthropists, researchers, industry members – to consider donating to the following charities:
- Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF
- Save the Children
- UNICEF
- NuDay
- The White Helmets
We also want to acknowledge the leadership of the American Academy of Neurology, and their efforts to coordinate humanitarian responses to the neurology community during these times of great need. Our organizations have appreciated being part of these collaborative conversations and stand in support of the principles they have adopted to guide such efforts: humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
A true measure of a community is how it responds during time of strife and unrest. In the face of this recent disaster, we stand with our Turkish and Syrian community members, and we salute their visible acts of bravery and perseverance. Our hearts to those who have lost their lives, and to those they loved left behind.
In collaboration and with respect,
Anup D. Patel, MD
President Board of Directors
Child Neurology Foundation
Bruce H. Cohen, MD
President
Child Neurology Society