KOICA Supports Korean-Style Walk-Through Diagnostic Booths in 23 Developing Countries

Supported 109 Diagnostic Booths with K-Walkthrough Brand Logo in 23 Countries So Far

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] KOICA announced on the 13th that it has supported a total of 109 Korean-style walk-through (K-Walk-Through) diagnostic booths to 23 developing countries to assist in their response to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

By region, 33 units were provided to 4 countries in Asia, 45 units to 12 countries in Africa, 17 units to 4 countries in Latin America, and 14 units to 3 countries in the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region.

This support for the walk-through diagnostic booths was carried out as part of the Korean government’s ‘Development Cooperation Initiative for a Safe World Together (ODA KOREA: Building TRUST)’ and under KOICA’s ABC program. The walk-through diagnostic booths supported by KOICA are mobile booths where medical personnel collect specimens from testees waiting outside while inside the positive pressure booth that blocks external virus inflow, ensuring safety and reducing waiting times for testing.

In particular, medical staff inside the booth do not need to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), which is expected to help protect the safety of medical personnel in developing countries who face poor PPE supply conditions and work in hot environments, as well as reduce their fatigue. All walk-through diagnostic booths supported this time bear the K-Walk-Through brand logo in cooperation with the Korean Intellectual Property Office.

KOICA is conducting initial pre-training for health ministries, hospitals, and international organization officials in each country to ensure that developing countries can properly use and maintain the supported walk-through diagnostic booths, and is currently conducting second-phase technical training via online video conferencing.

KOICA plans to additionally support about 50 walk-through booths to developing countries such as East Timor, Laos, and Cambodia. Park Jae-shin, Director of KOICA’s Asia Headquarters for Business Strategy, said, “KOICA is promoting comprehensive support including the provision of quarantine supplies such as walk-through diagnostic booths, strengthening quarantine capabilities, and supporting vulnerable groups so that developing countries can respond to COVID-19.” He added, “At the same time, as K-quarantine is receiving positive international evaluations, we are striving so that international cooperation and solidarity, as well as the new world created by COVID-19, can expand Korea’s status and further create new opportunities for our companies.”

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