Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) has teamed up with Seoul National University College of Medicine’s Lee Jong-wook Global Medical Center to help strengthen Ethiopia’s ability to conduct heart surgeries this week, KOFIH said Monday.

Five organizations – KOFIH, Addis Ababa Medical School, Black Lion Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital – will sign a three-year memorandum of understanding (MOU) to train Ethiopian doctors in their country, to decrease the overall death rate.

The project commenced under the Lee Jong-wook Fellowship Program began on Sunday and will last until Friday. Korean medical staff will provide training to Ethiopian doctors and perform heart surgeries in Ethiopia.

Starting Sunday, 20 Korean doctors will visit Ethiopian hospitals such as the Addis Ababa Medical School to diagnose pediatric patients, train local physicians and perform surgery on 10 patients. The program will offer training to Ethiopian thoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, pediatricians, operating room nurses, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurses, KOFIH said.

Dr. Lee Jong-wook Fellowship Project is a training program for global healthcare workers designed to help less developed countries increase healthcare systems.

Since 2007, KOFIH has contributed to strengthening the healthcare workforce capabilities of other nations by inviting health workers from 29 countries and providing training to 718 people through the fellowship program.

The Lee Jong-wook Fellowship Program is contributing to the quality of supportive health care services through long-term training strategies tailored to national characteristics, a customized curriculum reflecting the demand of trainees, and a sustainable education module to medical staff in partner countries, the foundation said.

yjc@docdocdoc.co.kr

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