President of the Korean Foundation for International Health (KOFIH) visits Uganda National Institute of Public Health

On August 10, 2022, the President of the Korean Foundation for International Health (KOFIH) Dr. Chang-Yup KIM visited the Uganda National Institute of Public Health (UNIPH). He was joined by Dr. Soon-ae KIM, the Director General, KOFIH Research and Training Innovation Center, Mr. Chi-bum SHIN, Director General, KOFIH Country Office Supporting Center, Mrs. Solyi KIM, Deputy Manager, in charge of the KOFIH Uganda Project and a host of other KOFIH officials from KOFIH-Headquarters as well as KOFIH-Uganda.

During the visit the KOFIH President was welcomed by Dr Ario, the Director of UNIPH, Dr Issa Makumbi, the Director of the Public Health Emergency Operation Center (PHEOC), Daniel Kadobera, Program Coordinator – Advanced Field Epidemiology, and Dr Felix Ocom, Deputy Director PHEOC. They were joined by several other colleagues from UNIPH. The KOFIH President and his team were given a brief tour of UNIPH. They appreciated how the units under UNIPH are working closely together during public health emergency response.

They were introduced to the different programs being implemented by UNIPH, the various capacity building opportunities being implemented and planned including all tiers of Field Epidemiology Training Programs, Health Informatics and Laboratory Leadership track and the Regional Emergency Operations Centers (REOCs) that have been set up across the country; as well as the future plans for institutionalisation of UNIPH. KOFIH expressed interest in supporting the Health Informatics track which aims to equip trainees with skills to navigate the ever-changing world of health informatics. KOFIH and UNIPH pledged to have an open-door policy and build on this partnership moving forward to develop innovative approaches to health system strengthening in a Low Resource setting and share with the scientific world.

KOFIH was established in 2006 as a public agency affiliated with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea to honor the late Dr. Lee Jong-wook (6th Director General of the WHO). Since then, the foundation has provided government-level healthcare assistance for developing partner countries. Its main goal in Uganda is to support the Ministry of Health and UNIPH especially in areas of Health System Strengthening.

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