Korea builds children's hospital in Uzbek capital

Representatives from Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Uzbekistan's National Children's Medical Center and other medical institutions of the two countries join the opening ceremony of Simulating Innovation Learning Center in the Uzbek capital city of Tashkent, Dec. 23. / Courtesy of KOICA

By Yi Whan-woo

Korea has completed building a children's hospital capable of conducting thousands of operations ever year in Uzbekistan, according to Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

KOICA, the foreign aid arm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the National Children's Medical Center in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent was constructed recently as an international development project supported by "Team Korea."

The team consists of KOICA, the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) and the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

KOICA was in charge of strengthening the capabilities of medical personnel. KOFIH oversaw consulting on hospital operations and the EDCF funded the construction.

The hospital is the only pediatric institution of its kind in Central Asia, specializing in high-tech services for more than 5,000 complex medial operations to be carried out every year.

KOICA has begun its separate projects with the hospital. Among them are the Simulating Innovation Learning Center to cultivate a skilled medical workforce, a master plan for strengthening clinical capabilities for treating child patients and training of medical staff and pediatricians.

In particular, KOICA expected the learning center to present new possibilities and models for Uzbekistan's healthcare system as well as children's hospitals.

"The education and training center supported by KOICA is meaningful in that it can lay the foundation for Uzbekistan to become the best medical hub in Central Asia," Korean Ambassador to Uzbekistan Kang Jae-kwon said during the opening ceremony of the center in late December.

KOICA Vice President Baek Suk-hee said strengthening the capabilities of healthcare workers, especially doctors and nurses, "is the most direct asset needed in the post-COVID-19 era," adding, "We look forward to the full transmission of Korea's experience and knowledge in healthcare to the Uzbekistan government."

Kang and Baek were joined by Seoul National Children's Hospital Director Kim Han-suk, Uzbek Deputy Health Minister Elmira Basitkhanova and National Children's Medical Center Director Murod Jafarov.

The two countries also jointly ran a five-week online seminar until Dec. 26 to help Uzbekistan bolster its COVID-19 emergency response.

Jointly organized by KOICA and Yonsei University Medical Center, the seminar had more than 150 participants from Uzbekistan's Ministry of Health, Virus Research Institute and National Children's Medical Center, among others.

The seminar included discussion and customized consulting on epidemiological investigation, diagnosis, treatment and control of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Park Hye-jung, deputy director of KOICA's Uzbekistan office, expressed the seminar was helpful "to directly help most participants from the Uzbekistan medical field perform their duties."

"To respond quickly and effectively to COVID-19, it is important to strengthen the capabilities of medical professionals," Park said. "We will overcome the crisis together by transmitting Korea's antivirus experience and expertise."

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