Hallym University Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital

Hallym University Medical Center(HUMC) has invited six trainees from Kenya to provide 'A Training Course on Kitengela Maternal and Child Healthcare Center Management.'

The Kenya medical delegation, which consists of clinical officers, administrative experts, and nurses, will be given lectures and clinical practices from March 28 to April 10 by Hallym medical professors on a Korean medical system, human resources management, the operation of maternal and child healthcare center, and clinical care for female patients and newborns.

The Korea International Cooperation Agency(KOICA) designated Hallym as a Project Management Consultant(PMC) in November 2008 of 'The Establishment of a Maternal & Child Healthcare Center in Kitengela, Kenya,' one of KOICA's official development assistant(ODA) projects. As a PMC, Hallym is in charge of consulting overall technical matters including the establishment and operation of the center, organizing listings of medical equipment and facilities, offering lectures and practices by inviting center employees and sending Hallym's experts to Kenya.

Dr. Seok Woo Kim, director of PMC, welcomed the Kenyan delegates by saying, "Through this project, which offers primary healthcare services to unprivileged Kenyans, I hope it would upgrade the medical quality of the region. It will eventually be contributory to enhancing their productivity and helping those in the state of abject poverty in Africa." "By participating in the governmental aid programs like this, we at Hallym will be able to move globalization and global medical aid one step forward. In the long run, we will enjoy global competitive edge via cementing ties with overseas medical institutions," he added.

At an orientation at Hallym, Mr. Steve Ng'ang'a Ndungu, a leader of the Kenyan invitees, responded, "I was deeply touched by Hallym's various high-tech medical equipment, comfortable and clean facilities, and kindness of employees. I do believe this training program could help enhance medical quality in Kenya, and will help promote cooperative relations between Kenya and Korea in the future."

Hallym has been joining hands with the KOICA in aid projects as a PMC in Iraq, Vietnam, and Paraguay, since its first successful involvement in the establishment of a burn center in Baghdad, Iraq, in 2007. Hallym has conveyed its extensive knowledge and know-how in medicine and hospital management. As a result, Hallym concluded a partnership agreement with the KOICA in January this year, which showcased a valuable input into upgrading specialties in the ODA programs.

Jonghun Im, Int'l Operations Team, HUMC imjonghun@hallym.or.kr