GC Green Cross Medical Foundation Holds Third Year of KOICA Global Training Program

Invitational Training in Korea for 15 Medical Professionals
from Seven Regions of Ukraine

GC Green Cross Medical Foundation announced on October 14 that it hosted the KOICA Global Training Course on "Strengthening Diagnostic and Treatment Capacities for Tuberculosis and Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Diseases in Ukraine (Invitational Training)" on the 26th of last month.

Participants of the KOICA Global Training Course on "Strengthening Diagnostic and Treatment Capacities for Tuberculosis and Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Diseases in Ukraine," hosted by GC Green Cross Medical Foundation, took a commemorative photo on the 26th of last month. Photo by GC Green Cross Medical Foundation

This training program builds on the achievements of last year’s second-phase invitational course, aiming to strengthen the capacity for implementing health policies related to the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacterial lung diseases through in-person seminars and discussions. The third-year trainees consisted of medical professionals from seven major national medical universities, research institutes, and tuberculosis-specialized healthcare institutions in Ukraine, each with an average of more than 10 years of experience in tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment.

During the two-week program, the trainees visited multiple institutions, including GC Green Cross Medical Foundation, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul Metropolitan Seobuk Hospital, National Medical Center, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, and Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital. They participated in lectures and field visits covering the entire process of diagnosing and treating tuberculosis and NTM (nontuberculous mycobacteria). Some trainees took part in oral presentations at the Korean Society of Epidemiology’s Fall Academic Conference, sharing their research achievements and networking with domestic and international experts. Professor Dmytro Butov received the Outstanding Oral Presentation Award for his research on the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis in Ukraine.

The KOICA Global Training Program is part of the Republic of Korea’s international development cooperation projects for developing countries. It aims to foster human resource development in these countries by sharing Korea’s development experience and public sector technologies. The program is conducted at the request of developing country governments and is overseen by KOICA, Korea’s dedicated development cooperation agency. Since its inception in 1991, the KOICA Global Training Program has trained participants in various fields each year, contributing to mutual understanding and building cooperative relationships between Korea and developing countries.

The "Strengthening Diagnostic and Treatment Capacities for Tuberculosis and Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Lung Diseases in Ukraine" course, commissioned and operated by GC Green Cross Medical Foundation, is one of the KOICA Global Training Programs and will run for three years from 2023 to 2025. The course aims to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and quality control of tuberculosis and NTM in Ukraine, thereby promoting public health and contributing to the global eradication of tuberculosis.

Lee Sangkon, President of GC Green Cross Medical Foundation, stated, "Tuberculosis remains a significant global health burden and continues to threaten the health and lives of countless people. There are still many challenges ahead that require close cooperation among all of us. I hope that the knowledge and experience gained through this training will make a tangible contribution to eradicating tuberculosis in Ukraine, and that health cooperation between Korea and Ukraine will become even stronger, ultimately improving the health of both nations’ citizens."

Professor Dmytro Butov of Kharkiv National Medical University, representing the trainees, said, "This training has given us renewed hope for patient care and for improving our healthcare system. I would like to express my deep gratitude to GC Green Cross Medical Foundation and KOICA for providing this opportunity, as well as to the Korean experts who generously shared their knowledge and experience."

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