Gyeonggi-do medical volunteer group provides free treatment in Kenya
Visit to the only state hospital in Baringo Province… Identify and support patients who are difficult to treat locally
In June, medical staff were invited to Gyeonggi Province for training… 20 doctors take care of 700,000 residents
Infection-hygiene education and medicine donation… Goods were also delivered to schools established by Koreans.
“Welcome to Baringo State, Kenya” (Governor Benjamin Cesire Cheboy)
Baringo Province, Kenya on the 22nd. When the Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Corps arrived here, 7 hours away by bus from the capital Nairobi, the governor greeted them warmly. On this day, the volunteer group visited Baringo Referral Hospital, the only state hospital in Baringo Province.
This hospital serves a population of 700,000, but has only 120 beds. Nevertheless, 12 specialists including internal medicine, orthopedics, pediatrics, gynecology, and otolaryngology and 8 trainees are treating 600 outpatients every day.
● Korean medical staff provide medical service in Africa
Upon entering the hospital, surgeon Geoffrey Barack Omondi, pediatrician Catherine Ndila Kilonzo, and internal medicine specialist Stefan Kiplimo Kalya welcomed the Korean medical staff. They established a relationship with Korea by receiving invited medical training for a month at Icheon Medical Center and Paju Medical Center in Gyeonggi Province in June of this year.
Mr. Omondi, who observed patient surgeries and outpatient treatment at the time, said, “I have vivid memories of laparoscopic surgery and the use of ultrasound devices,” and added, “I learned a lot of advanced medical technology, but I was disappointed that the period was short.” Governor Cheboy said, “The Kenyan government is also preparing institutional measures to implement universal health insurance like Korea. “I hope that there will be a medical education program in Korea where people can continuously learn about advanced medical care,” he said.
Gyeonggi Province, which supported local medical volunteer activities, plans to support training of Kenyan medical staff in the future. Kwon-soo Yoo, head of the Gyeonggi Province Medical Resources Department, said, “As Gyeonggi Province and Baringo Province signed a health and medical cooperation agreement last year, we will continue to provide support as an extension of that agreement,” and added, “We will discuss the number of people trained and the content of the program in accordance with the budget.” Ko Jun-ho, vice chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council, also said, “We will cooperate as much as possible when preparing next year’s budget so that Gyeonggi Province can help with the insufficient local medical situation.”
● Promoting entry into the country for patients who cannot receive local treatment
On the 23rd, the Gyeonggi-do medical volunteer group looked at about 30 hospitalized patients and 50 outpatients and identified patients who would receive additional treatment in Korea. Baringo Referral Hospital, unlike domestic hospitals, was vulnerable to external infections as the inpatient room, intensive care unit, and operating room were located in different buildings. The intensive care unit, which had five beds, only had one ventilator. Kidney dialysis could only be performed on up to 5 people. He said that currently, because the entire medical cost must be borne by the patient, the number of patients who can pay the cost is limited.
Soobin Lim, a professor of neurosurgery at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, said, “The standard of medical care is worse than expected. On the contrary, if you think about it, it is an environment where even small things can be of great help,” he expressed his regret. “We also found four patients who could not be treated locally, including a 10-year-old child with severe burns on his arm and a man with a lump on his neck. “We will cooperate with Gyeonggi Province to pursue a plan to provide support for medical expenses, lodging expenses, and airfare,” he said.
Professor Lim also lectured on infection hygiene management and spinal disease treatment to Kenyan medical staff. On this day, an event was also held locally where the Gyeonggi-do medical volunteer group donated $35,000 (approximately 48 million won) worth of goods in kind, including 18 types of medicine, two emergency vehicles, and a fire truck.
● Delivery of health care kits for children
In Kabanetro, Baringo, there is Ebenezer Academy, an educational institution founded by Koreans. Gyeonggi International Medical Association and Gyeonggi Provincial Council members provided play service to about 60 children in kindergarten at Ebenezer Academy. Author Song Eun-kyung’s picture book ‘Arctic Fox in the Desert’ was read through an interpreter, and health care kits for children were also delivered. ‘Kids Finger Painting’, which involves putting paint on the palm of one’s hand and painting it on a large piece of drawing paper, has also become popular among children. The Gyeonggi Province Medical Corps also announced that it would support Ebenezer Academy with classroom expansion costs, dormitory repair costs, and 15 million won in scholarships.
Cabanet = Medical reporter Jinhan Lee, doctor [email protected]
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This report highlights the collaborative efforts between Gyeonggi Province and local organizations to enhance medical care in Baringo, Kenya, particularly for patients who lack access to sufficient treatment facilities. Through a combination of on-ground medical assessments, donations of medical supplies, and educational efforts aimed at local health practitioners, the initiative reflects a commitment to not only alleviate immediate healthcare needs but also improve overall medical standards in underserved areas. The involvement of the Gyeonggi Province Medical Corps in educational initiatives for children further showcases an investment in the community’s future health and well-being.