South Korea gov't shares lessons on combating COVID-19

COVID-19

South Korea government received the request to share the lessons learned of combating COVID-19 from around the world.

In order to share Korea's response system and related experiences of COVID-19 with the world and respond to the need for international cooperation, the South Korea government (Ministry of Health and Ministry of Foreign Affairs) conducted the first special webinar on COVID-19 for policy and technology sharing sponsored by Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) and Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI).

H.E. Gang Lip Kim, Vice Minister of Ministry of Health and Welfare gave the opening remarks and Korean experts including Dr. Youngrae Son, Director General of Strategy and planning, Center Disaster Management Headquarters shared the following experiences from Korea.

• National Policy on COVID-19 Response and current status: Response system, public participation, Medical Support

• Diagnostic Test: Emergency Approval, cooperation with the private sector, diagnostic methods

• Epidemiological Analysis: Tracing of Infection, Identification on routes and contacts, Isolation and Management, Use of ICT

• Clinical Treatment: Classification of severity, Distribution of Medical supplies, treatment methods, Medical use for general patients.

On May 4^th, 10 Key COVID-19 response officials from Ministry of Health including Dr.Henry Mwebesa (Director General), Dr. Makumbi Issa (Director of Public Health Operation Emergency Center), Dr. Jackson Amone (Commissioner, Clinical Services), Dr, William Worodria (Chair of COVID-19 Case Management Committee) joined this webinar from the Ministry of Health to understand lessons and learned from South Korea.

 
They have asked questions including 1) what are the leading cause of COVID-19 death 2) There have been reconfirmed COVID-19 in South Korea, what are the causes? 3) Unlike other countries, Uganda has experienced only mild symptoms of COVID-19 confirmed cases.  What Korea expertise thinks about the reason, also what was the pattern of gradual increase in the number of confirmed cases in South Korea to help Uganda to combat COVID-19.

South Korea was able to successfully flatten the curve on COVID-19 in only 20 days without enforcing extreme draconian measures including lockdown as well as the movement of people. Even on April 15, millions of South Koreans turned up to vote in the parliamentary election and not a single case was transmitted during the election.

Thanks to early preparations (TEST, TRACE, and CONTAIN) and robust public health response based around extensive testing and tech-powered contact tracing.

South Korea driver-through COVID 19 Test Clinic, people can be tested inside the car (source: GyungNam news)

 
On May 4th, South Korea reported eight new imported COVID-19 cases that brought the total number of patients to 10,801, more than 9,217 of whom have recovered.

With 252 death so far, South Korea has one of the lowest COVID-19 case mortality rates in the world, at 2.31% (compared to world fatality rate 7.04%, US 5.9%, Spain 11.6%, Italy 13.7%, UK 15.4%)

Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) Uganda office has prepared and supported this webinar session to link-up between the South Korea government and officials, Ministry of Health, Uganda.

Catherine Yu, Ag. Country Representative, KOFIH Uganda Office mentioned "KOFIH has been active in Uganda since 2017 to enhance the emergency medical service and TB treatment. We have worked with the Ministry of Health, Uganda very closely.

In this critical time, KOFIH is also here to help the Ministry of Health, Uganda to combat COVID-19.

We have already supported to develop the National Emergency Medical Service COVID-19 guideline. Masaka RRH is using the ambulance that was donated by KOFIH to transfer the patient from the border to Masaka RRH.

We also have a plan to support with 1) TEST KIT 2) Support PPE 3) Training for ambulance drivers and call and dispatch workers 4) COVID-19 ambulance station.

As the government agency under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, South Korea, KOFIH is ready to share more lessons in combating COVID-19 and there will be more Webinar sessions for the Uganda government.

Korea has been using innovate ways of solving COVID-19 including Drive-Through screening clinics, self-isolation apps, living and treatment center, among others

"Currently, there have been more than 20 COVID-19 confirmed cases at the border from truck drivers, I think drive through testing in which health workers collect the sample from the truck can be the way to protect people at the border as well as front line health works"

Masaka RRH health workers using the ambulance donated by KOFIH to transfer COVID19 patient from Mutukula border