Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital

A farewell ceremony was held on January 16 for twelve Iraqi medical staff at Hallym University Scared Hospital. The Iraqi staff completed "A Training Course on Burn Center Management" which was organized by Hallym University Medical Center (HMC). The training program lasted for eight weeks from November 26, 2007 to January 16, 2008. Earlier, Hallym was designated as Project Management Consultant (PMC) by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in mid-July last year.

Dr. Sang-Hoon Bae, president of HMC, Mustafa M. Taufik, Iraqi ambassador to Korea and Dr. In-Yeup Song, director of the KOICA Humanitarian Aid Team and 50 other staff participated in the ceremony. Drs. Husam and Yaarub were awarded prizes for their achievement during the eight-week training course and Messrs. Raheem and Majed were cited as excellent trainees.

The program mainly consisted of lectures and practices on medical treatment, nursing and equipment. The medical course involved an emergency treatment, rehabilitation, treatment of psychiatric complications and skin grafting for burn patients. A nursing course covered nursing process of burn patients, infection management and children's burn care. A course on medical equipment included air thermia unit (ATU), vaccum assited closure (VAC) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).

Dr. Bae appreciated the effort of HMC staff by saying. "I am really pleased to learn that with deeper interest and affection, all the staff of HMC has devoted themselves to helping the Iraqi delegates share their most advanced knowledge, expertise and extensive experience especially those of the Burn Center that we have been so proud of."

He also noted, "I believe it would also be a good chance to let the Iraqi people understand Hallym and Korea. I hope your experience here in Korea will help you establish and smoothly operate a burn center at Imam Ali Hospital in Baghdad, and contribute to promoting health and welfare of your people in the long run."

"Now let me close by renewing my thanks to the officials at the KOICA for offering us this opportunity to work with Iraqi friends, and sincerely hoping that this program will pave the way for maintaining continued cooperative ties between Korea and Iraq," the present added.

"I am very pleased to get the excellent trainings here at HMC. Returning home, I will do the level best to provide high quality medical services to my people who have long been suffering from war," responded Dr. Husam who headed the Iraqi delegation.