Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital

Dr. Yul Lee, vice president of Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, and Seung-Kyu Oh, the International Affairs Team (IAT) of Hallym University Medical Center (HUMC) visited Lima, Peru, from March 16 to 24, 2008. The purpose of the Korean delegation's visit was to consult a project of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) which is designed to help improve hospital facilities and provide equipment to Dos de Mayo Hospital in Lima. The project requires 4.7 million dollars to install radiological and pathological equipment and to renovate the medical facilities.

HUMC has already consulted in several KOICA's Official Development Assistant (ODA) projects to aid Iraq and Vietnam: Dr. Lee participated as a personal consultant to counsel hospital facilities and equipment.

On March 17, they visited the KOICA office in Peru to get information on an overall schedule of this project and paid a courtesy visit to the Korean Ambassador to Peru, Young-Hee Hahn. "If it is completed successfully, it would pave the way for cementing a friendly relationship between Korea and Peru," the ambassador remarked with high anticipation.

The Korean delegation and the KOICA staff went on to visit the Peruvian Ministry of Health to discuss matters of mutual concern for a Record of Discussion (RD). Both sides agreed that while the Korean government assumes a responsibility for expanding and renovating the hospital building, the Peruvian side takes over the building dismantling and customs clearance of the equipment.

They dropped by Dos de Mayo Hospital the next day to meet to Director General, Dr. Fernando Ordonez. "This hospital was established in 1875 and has become one of the biggest hospitals in Lima, Peru. It has played a significant role as a teaching hospital for one national university and two private universities and about 600 out-patients and 1,400 in-patients on a daily basis," Dr. Fernando explained.

They joined a signing ceremony, on March 19 for the RD between Mr. Hernan Garrido, Peruvian health minister and Mr. Chae-Seok Woo, director of the KOICA office, in Peru. The document contains details of this project.

Since last year, HUMC has consulted KOICA's projects which are in humanitarian aid types to get rid of national diseases and prevent disasters.

By Seung-Kyu Oh, IAT, HUMC