Hallym University Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital

Hallym University Medical Center(HUMC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU) with the Rural Development Administration(RDA) on June 12 in Youngwol-gun, Gangwon-do to join a campaign of the government agency, 'Finding Hope in the Green Rural Area.'

The project is a new drive to help the rural area which combines rural community support activities such as the provision of agriculture technologies, addressing labor shortage and consulting services for the village development and volunteer medical services. Among the gargets are villages with little access to medical care.

As a first step, an 80-member aid team of Hallym and RDA carried out technical and medical support activities in Deulmorai Village, Youngwol-gun, Gangwon-do, on June 12. The residents suffer from insufficient medical services because there are neither large hospitals nor convenient public transportation from Youngwol-gun.

HUMC sent 16 members headed by Prof. Do-Young Kim of orthopedic surgery at Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital. They provided medical treatment for people with musculoskeletal and spinal diseases.

RDA also dispatched 60 members to support comprehensive consulting of crops, amenities, multicultural family counseling, technical support, repairing of computers and farm machines and phone consultation on livestock diseases.

Both sides earlier concluded an MOU on that day to actively join 'Finding Hope in the Green Rural Area.'HUMC especially plans to conduct medical support activities at least four times every year, offering village residents discounts for medical services at hospitals of HUMC, and providing quality medial welfare services in cooperation with its social work team.

Dr. Hae-Ran Lee, HUMC president, said, "Hallym continued to carry out volunteer activities for undeveloped rural areas such as Byuljubu village, Taean-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, and Hyeonnae-myeon, Goseong-gun, Gangwon-do. We are expecting to create greater synergy by linking on-site support programs of RDA, and medical aid activities through this agreement."

By Younghee Han, Int'l Operations Team, HUMC (symposium@hallym.or.kr)