Ministry of Science and ICT Information Access Center Supporting Latin America in Overcoming COVID-19

A mask (face shield) produced by the project team of Asuncion National University using a 3D printer donated by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Information Society Agency.

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Cho] The Information Access Centers established by the Ministry of Science and ICT as part of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects in Latin America are contributing to overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic. They are helping produce masks using 3D printers locally and supporting the transition to remote university lectures in Costa Rica, where a nationwide home quarantine order has been issued.

According to the Ministry of Science and ICT on the 23rd, the Information Access Centers, operated jointly with the National Information Society Agency to support developing countries, are present in 42 countries with 49 centers.

At the Korea-Paraguay Information Access Center, which opened in 2017, a 'Mask Production Project Using 3D Printers' has recently been promoted in collaboration with Asuncion National University to address the COVID-19 situation. So far, over 1,200 face masks for medical personnel have been produced. These masks were donated to hospitals in Paraguay. The plan is to produce about 5,000 masks monthly and continue donations.

Viviana Mendieta, Head of the Digital Inclusion Division at Paraguay’s Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, expressed gratitude, saying, “This project is a great help in overcoming COVID-19 in Paraguay. It was made possible because the Korean government established the Information Access Center and supported ICT equipment such as 3D printers.”

In Costa Rica, where home quarantine and university closure orders have been issued, the Information Access Center is collaborating with the Costa Rica National Technical University to assist the transition to remote lectures. The Korea-Costa Rica Information Access Center is providing technical support by producing and distributing manuals and guidelines for various applications necessary for remote lectures and supporting education. Through this, more than 10,000 students at the National Technical University have been able to attend classes stably.

Jung Hee-kwon, International Cooperation Officer at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, “We are demonstrating an exemplary cooperation model using ICT in collaboration with local national universities to overcome COVID-19,” and added, “We will continue to support Information Access Centers so that they can contribute to solving social issues in developing countries, such as overcoming COVID-19, as seen in the cases of Paraguay and Costa Rica.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.