Jeonnam Province Strengthens Support Project for Maternity Vulnerable Areas

Supporting 8 Obstetrics and Outpatient Gynecology Clinics... Operating Mobile Obstetrics and Gynecology Services

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province has strengthened support projects for vulnerable childbirth areas in 8 cities and counties within the province to resolve the inconvenience experienced by pregnant women who could not receive medical treatment due to the absence of obstetrics and gynecology clinics.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 15th, vulnerable childbirth areas refer to places where it is difficult to access childbirth medical institutions within 60 minutes or where more than 30% of the population cannot access medical institutions capable of childbirth.

These areas have a 1.25 times higher incidence rate of major complications such as miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy compared to urban areas, and mothers are experiencing significant physical and economic burdens due to long-distance prenatal checkups and giving birth away from home.

Since 2011, the province has participated in the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s public contest projects and has established 4 delivery obstetrics and gynecology clinics and 4 outpatient obstetrics and gynecology clinics to date.

In the first year, 5.8 billion KRW was supported for facilities and equipment, and annually 2.8 billion KRW is provided for medical personnel salaries and operating expenses.

The four medical institutions operating delivery obstetrics and gynecology clinics?Gangjin Medical Center, Goheung General Hospital, Yeonggwang General Hospital, and Haenam General Hospital?have established a 24-hour integrated delivery treatment system and have handled 963 deliveries within the jurisdiction over the past three years, serving as key obstetrics and gynecology centers.

The four medical institutions operating outpatient obstetrics and gynecology clinics?Wando Daeseong Hospital, Jindo Hanguk Hospital, Boseong Asan Hospital, and Hampyeong Seongsim Hospital?have managed prenatal and postnatal checkups and newborn care for about 23,000 people over the past three years and have also established a linkage system with delivery medical institutions.

In areas without obstetrics and gynecology hospitals such as Gokseong, Yeongam, Jangseong, and Sinan, the province operates a mobile “Visiting Obstetrics and Gynecology” vehicle twice a month entrusted to Mokpo City Medical Center, providing free prenatal care including ultrasound examinations, fetal anomaly tests, and blood tests.

As a result of these efforts, Yeonggwang County, which operates a delivery obstetrics and gynecology clinic, ranked first nationwide in total fertility rate this year, and the province analyzes that visible results are emerging from the project.

Kang Young-gu, Director of the Health and Welfare Bureau of Jeonnam Province, said, “We will do our best to create an environment where people can give birth and raise children with peace of mind by improving the vulnerable childbirth infrastructure.”

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