KOICA expands health projects in Congo

Congolese children stand in a street in a poor neighborhood in Kinshasa in this photo taken in June. KOICA has been stepping up its efforts to improve sanitary conditions for the Congolese through its public health projects.
/ Korea Times photo by Yi Whan-woo

UNICEF acknoweldges Korean aid group helping African livelihood

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) invited The Korea Times from June 11 to 20 to take a look at its aid projects in two African countries — the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R. Congo) and Uganda. This is the second in the series. — Ed.

By Yi Whan-woo

KINSHASA, D.R. Congo — Since opening an office in D.R. Congo in 2010, KOICA has been stepping up its public health projects.

The Seoul-based foreign development assistance agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is running a two-year project that started in 2012 to fight malaria in Bandundu, one of the 11 provinces in the central African country.

It also supports the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the global humanitarian organization that provides assistance to children and mothers throughout the world, in terms of finance and human resources. KOICA provided $2 million to the organization between 2010 and 2012. UNICEF also has five Korean employees, including one who worked for KOICA.

Some 5.3 million of the 72 million people in D.R. Congo are diagnosed with malaria each year, according to KOICA. The central African government has requested the Korean aid organization to lend support in five areas in Bandundu that suffer significantly from one of the most life-threatening diseases in Africa.

"Our project has become broader in scope and more effective since it began," said Shin Cha-soo, KOICA's first and only malaria project manager in D.R. Congo.

UNICEF and KOICA officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo discuss project issues during a visit to UNICEF's office in Kinshasa in June. From left are Sylvie Fouet, UNICEF's deputy representative; Ji Hyun-goo, UNCIEF's emergency supply officer; Song Gae-hee, UNICEF's monitoring and evaluation specialist; and Lee Hyang-woo, KOICA's deputy representative.
/ Korea Times photo by Yi Whan-woo

"Before 2012, the project focused on providing medicines and mosquito nets.

"While we continue to offer such supplies, we now also teach doctors and nurses about malaria prevention at five hospitals and 100 health centers across our target areas."

Shin said the size of the areas covered by KOICA is small compared to those covered by other international aid organizations, such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Nevertheless, she said KOICA's services make a significant impact.

"Because we cover small areas, we can look after the people, especially the children and the pregnant women, more effectively."

Shin, who is also a nurse at Inje University's Global Health Research Center, has been recognized by a KOICA official for her significant contribution to the agency.

A KOICA official takes out a medical supply package for people in Bandundu in this photo taken in 2013. / Courtesy of KOICA

"It's true that KOICA officials do not have expertise in all fields, so an expert like Shin is a big help to enhancing our public health projects here," said Lee Hyang-woo, a deputy representative at KOICA's D.R. Congo office.

KOICA said it considers joining forces with larger global aid organizations crucial to expanding its public projects. Its work with the UNICEF between 2010 and 2012 was successful, according to Sylvie Fouet, a UNICEF deputy representative in D.R. Congo.

It was the first time that KOICA worked with an international assistance agency. It offered $2 million to UNICEF for the purchase of vaccines for diseases prevalent in the region, including malaria and measles.

"UNICEF is the current chair of all the actors and partners working in the health sector," she said, adding that the chairmanship rotates among the aid organizations every two years.

"We're trying to show everybody around the table the importance of working together to support the needs of the Congolese government and its people," she said.

"You have many main actors in the health sector. In addition to the big partners, we have KOICA, USAID and of course, the World Health Organization.

A doctor conducts a medical check-up on a Congolese woman under the support of KOICA in this file photo taken in 2010. / Courtesy of KOICA

"We believe reducing child mortality is the No. 1 priority, and we and KOICA have that in common.

"Together, we have reduced child mortality by 30 percent, thanks to a lot of things, including the fight against malaria. We believe KOICA fulfilled this No. 1 priority."

Fouet said she hopes KOICA and UNICEF will continue to cooperate in mainly two areas — health-related vaccinations and medicine kits for mothers.

"We try to bring mothers early to the health centers, and we try to bring medicine to the mothers. So that's what we like to work together."

Beside the financial support, she said support on logistics as well as expertise of the Koreans would be crucial.

Some 80 percent of 500 full-time employees at UNICEF's 14 D.R. Congo offices are Congolese while the rest are from other countries.

"They're from Korea, France, Germany, Switzerland as well as African countries such as Ivory Coast."

The Korean employees include — Ji Hyun-goo and Song Gae-hee. Ji, a former Navy officer in Korea, worked as an intern from 2012 to 2013 in D.R. Congo for the United Nations Volunteer, (UNV) a joint internship program offered by KOICA and UN.

Song is the monitoring and evaluation specialist at the child protection division. They have made important contributions to UNICEF, according to Fouet.

"An important thing is diversity. In African countries, it's important to have not only Europeans, Americans and Latinos but also Asians," she said.

"The Congolese are not used to seeing Asians, so they call them Chinese. It's important to show that Asia is diverse. It's important for connectivity and openness."

In particular, she said Ji has been valued for his role as an emergency supply officer, providing equipment to Goma, an eastern city in D.R. Congo where battles between rebels and government forces have taken place.

"He served in the military and we know that the military is good is in logistics," she said.

"The way he coached and shared his expertise with his Congolese colleagues was important. He not only brings expertise but also transmits knowledge, and that's important."

UNICEF wants more Koreans to participate in its global programs, according to Fouet.

"We have about 11,000 staff, 3,000 globally, and 80 percent working in the field," she said.

"If people believe in being mandated, being dedicated, have expertise and are looking forward to being in the field, they will make it."