Ongjin-gun County (Governor Jang Jeong-min) teamed up with the Gyeonggi-Incheon branch of the Korea Hansen Welfare Association to run a free mobile dermatology clinic for island residents on Ijakdo Island in Jawol-myeon from the 15th to the 16th. The public-private partnership was designed to give residents of island areas, who have difficulty accessing private hospitals and clinics, an opportunity to receive specialized medical care.
 [The Korean Today] Free mobile dermatology clinic on Ijakdo Island © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
Treatment took place at the Ijak 1-ri senior center. The clinic was organized to improve the health of residents who find it hard to receive specialized dermatology care because geographic conditions limit their access to private hospitals and clinics, and it drew strong interest and a positive response from local residents.
Medical specialists from the association’s Gyeonggi-Incheon branch provided one-on-one, tailored care to residents suffering from age-related and chronic skin conditions such as eczema, itching and psoriasis. Depending on their symptoms, patients were prescribed and provided with prescription medications, including oral and topical drugs. The team also conducted blood tests, including biochemical tests and screenings for hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and syphilis, to carefully check residents’ overall health.
 [The Korean Today] Island residents receiving treatment at the Ijak 1-ri senior center © Reporter Kim Mi-hee |
“Because of the nature of island areas, there is a shortage of specialized medical institutions, so many seniors are unable to get timely treatment even when they have skin conditions,” an official from the Ongjin-gun County Public Health Center said. “We hope this mobile clinic has been of practical help to residents in managing their health, and we will continue to expand customized medical services for island residents through cooperation with specialized medical institutions.”
Skin conditions can easily become chronic, and in island areas with large elderly populations, residents often miss the window for treatment, making mobile clinics like this one an important means of filling gaps in medical care. Ongjin-gun County plans to continue its cooperation with specialized medical institutions and broaden medical services for island residents.
[ Reporter Kim Mi-hee: incheonsouth@thekoreantoday.com ]
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