The volunteer group, consisting of about 10 physicians and hospital personnel, includes distinguished specialists such as Dr. Hong-Wook Kim, a professor of urology, Dr. Ki-Hong Kim, a professor of cardiology, and Dr. Woo-Jin Kwon, a professor of anesthesiology and pain medicine. The team has been traveling across Lesotho, delivering direct medical care to residents in areas where access to healthcare is profoundly limited.
Lesotho, a landlocked nation in southern Africa, grapples with significant challenges due to its underdeveloped medical infrastructure. Many residents must travel for over a day to reach a hospital, and pharmacies are scarce, leaving countless individuals without access to basic medical care.
Since their arrival, the Konyang team has treated a substantial number of patients, providing diagnostic assessments, prescriptions, minor surgical procedures, and preventive vaccinations. The volunteers encountered numerous cases of untreated tuberculosis, both confirmed and suspected, as well as patients with conditions that could be alleviated with basic medications such as analgesics or antipyretics. These patients had previously been left untreated due to the region’s limited resources.
The efforts of the Konyang University Hospital team underscore the vital role of global medical missions in addressing healthcare disparities, particularly in regions like Lesotho, where systemic barriers prevent access to even the most fundamental medical services.
Lim Hye Jung, HEALTH IN NEWS TEAM
press@hinews.co.kr
