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The Background and Details of an Agreement between Ministry of Unification and WHO (March 28, 2006)

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관리자
created
2006-03-31
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28816
Religious leaders

Minister of Unification Lee Jong-seok and Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Lee Jong-wook have concluded an agreement to support North Korean infants.

The agreement is intended to protect the basic rights of infants who have been suffering because of the economic difficulties and food shortages in North Korea, which have resulted in a humanitarian crisis. By assisting in providing balanced care for North Korean infants, the joint project aims at enhancing the development of the North
Korean people as a growth engine for the future South-North economic community.
The basic purpose of this project is to assist in improving the health of North Korean infants and pregnant women. It also features development assistance to enhance the quality of life for North Korean citizens on a mid to long-term basis by providing assistance to strengthen North Korea's health care infrastructure.

WHO has a resident office in Pyongyang and has gained expertise in the health and medical treatment field by carrying out many projects in North Korea.

The program can be divided into four parts: a capacity-building project, modernization of medical facilities, improvement in health information management and building social services networks on a regional basis. The capacity-building project aims at improving technology and the capabilities of medical personnel and preventing pregnant women and infants from getting sick and dying. The modernization of medical facilities mainly refers to the reconstruction of operating rooms in provincial and county hospitals. The third project is to strengthen planning and management capacities of officials in the Ministry of Health and the health information system related to pregnant women and children. Through the establishment of social services networks, training will be provided for pregnant women, their families and local communities.

WHO will carry out the programs in collaboration with the North Korean Ministry of Health. While WHO will provide technical assistance, hire consultants and experts and conduct monitoring and evaluations as well as accounting audits, the Ministry of Health will be responsible for providing training in local areas, holding workshops and giving lectures. The Pyongyang Office of WHO will directly supervise the program and the regional office and headquarters of WHO will be in charge of providing technical assistance, supervision and monitoring of the program in general.

WHO and the North Korean Ministry of Health will conduct joint monitoring in North Korea. WHO is required to submit reports on the progress of the program twice a year. These should be supplemented by supporting materials. WHO also has to report on its activities in detail, what it is doing and the expected results; its reports should elucidate on the targeted groups as well as the regions, and explain what type of assistance is being provided.