Shinan County, located in Jeollanam-do, has been recognized for its efforts to overcome geographical challenges in providing healthcare to its 1,028 islands.
On October 28, during the '80th Anniversary of Health Center Establishment' event, Shinan County received an institutional commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare for its contributions to public health and community health improvement.
The event, co-hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Korea Health Promotion Institute, and the Regional Health Care Institutions Association, awarded a total of 20 commendations, including 16 for organizations and 4 for individuals, to those who contributed to the advancement of local healthcare.
Shinan County consists of 83 inhabited islands and 945 uninhabited islands, making it a representative island region. Due to the necessity of traveling by boat between islands, residents face significant time and cost barriers in accessing medical facilities, highlighting the need for improved healthcare accessibility.
In response, the Shinan County Health Center has expanded healthcare services by directly reaching out to residents through its 40 health institutions, including health centers, health sub-centers, and health clinics.
The county has focused on providing mobile medical services to uninhabited islands and operating a mobile dental clinic to reduce the inconvenience of medical care for island residents. Preventive health management initiatives, such as early dementia screenings and outreach visits to senior centers, have also been implemented for elderly residents.
Notably, the introduction of medical oxygen generators to improve emergency medical response in island areas has garnered attention.
Previously, securing medical oxygen for emergency patients in island regions required transporting oxygen tanks from the mainland by boat, which posed challenges in safety management and procedural compliance, limiting rapid response in emergencies.
To address this issue, Shinan County collaborated with Jeollanam-do and the Korea Health Promotion Institute last year to incorporate medical oxygen generators into the 'Rural Medical Service Improvement Project.'
The equipment was prioritized for deployment in health sub-centers and clinics in island areas with high frequencies of emergency patients, enhancing the supply of medical oxygen.
Medical oxygen generators separate and concentrate oxygen from the air using electricity, alleviating the burden of transporting oxygen tanks.
However, continuous strengthening of connections with medical institutions and emergency transport systems remains a challenge for the swift transfer and professional treatment of emergency patients.
Infection prevention initiatives are also being tailored to local characteristics.
Shinan County has been conducting influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations at health institutions, including those in uninhabited areas, and providing infection prevention education to farmers, the elderly, and seasonal foreign workers.
By offering vaccinations and health management services to residents with limited access to medical facilities, the county aims to establish a public health system focused on early disease detection and prevention.
Kim Tae-sung, the mayor of Shinan County, stated, "This award is the result of the collective efforts of all health institution staff and the community working together for the health and happiness of our residents."
He added, "We will do our utmost to provide comprehensive healthcare services tailored to local conditions, ensuring that no resident is left behind in accessing medical services due to the abundance of islands."
Looking ahead, Shinan County plans to continue its outreach medical services and health management initiatives through its 40 health institutions, particularly focusing on improving emergency medical response and chronic disease management in island areas with a high elderly population.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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