Malaria Kits Travel Across North Korean Border

(2011.05.23)

Medicine and insect repellent sent to the North, May 23
Gyeonggi Province and Incheon team up to prevent disease in North and South

-A 25-ton truck loaded with anti-malarial materials passes through the “Unification Gate” at 9:30am on May 23. (GNews Plus Hwang Jin-hwan)

At nine thirty in the morning on May 23, three 25-ton trucks packed with goods passed through the CIQ at Dorasan Mountain in Paju. It was a disarming moment long absent since the North bombarded the South Korean island of Yeongpyeong.

The aid was given by Gyeonggi Province, Incheon, and other local governments that are geographically close to North Korea as part of their efforts to prevent malaria epidemics.

The load consisted of 1,500 kilograms of insecticide and 95,000 packs of insect repellent, among other preventive materials worth KRW 137 million. It will be followed by a second and third transport of malaria diagnosis kits, mosquito nets, preventative medicines for pregnant women, and more.

The project first began in 2008 when forty-five percent (1,007 people) of all malaria patients were residents of Gyeonggi Province. The epidemic hit the border areas the hardest. The local government proposed a cooperative anti-malaria campaign for the North, in which they agreed to participate.

Gyeonggi Province has spent a total of KRW 11.3 billion on the campaign over the last three years. The outbreak of malaria appeared to be under control, but the delay of the delivery due to the Yeongpyeong bombardment has increased the rates once more.

The local government concluded that cooperation with bordering regions is essential. Gyeonggi Province encouraged Incheon to participate in early 2011.

The Gyeonggi Provincial Government has set aside KRW one billion for 2011, three times 2010’s budget of KRW 350 million. Incheon, the first participant of 2011, dedicated KRW 200 million to the project.

When the government approved the transport of aid to North Korea on April 9th, Gyeonggi Province sent the first load up to the North in collaboration with the private humanitarian group Korean Sharing Movement.

-Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo and Incheon Mayor Song Young-gil wave to the trucks bound for Gaeseong at a ceremony at Imjingak, Paju. (GNews Plus Hwang Jin-hwan)

The project is significant in that it served as an icebreaker after the bombardment of Yeongpyeong Island. It could also serve as an opportunity to resume dialogue once more. With the participation of Incheon, the project has expanded its scope from Hwanghaebuk Province and the capital city to include Hwanghaenam Province.

During the ceremony, and before the trucks passed the border, Governor Kim announced that: “There is no border or DMZ when it comes to fighting malaria. This project is not only beneficial to the North but also a step towards co-existence. Incheon City and Gangwon Province, both of which are in close proximity with the North, will cooperate in eradicating this disease, which is common in third world countries.”

Incheon Mayor Song Young-gil agreed. “The goal of this project is to protect the health of those living near the border, but it will also build trust between the two nations and perhaps even re-initiate food aid. We will continue to expand the campaign for the brighter future of both countries.”

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province is planning to send powdered milk, nutritious foods, and soy milk to the Hwanghaebuk Province region to improve the health of newborn babies and toddlers.

According to 2011 world development statistics issued by the World Bank, 20.6 percent of all newborn babies in North Korea were underweight and 43.1 percent were suffering from malnutrition for the six years from 2004 to 2009. The local government will spend KRW 950 million to support newborns and toddlers from low-income families.

Gyeonggi Province collaborated with Nambuk Nanum (North South Sharing) and World Vision in 2010 to send 14,000 cans of powdered milk to the North. World Vision will also resume its high-nutrition porridge project.

-Governor Kim Moon-soo and Mayor Song Young-gil take a close look at the ingredients of an insecticide and the instructions for its use.  (GNews Plus Hwang Jin-hwan)