South Korean Training Transforms Uganda's Healthcare Delivery, KOFIH Alumni Reveal

Ugandan health professionals who participated in specialized training in South Korea have demonstrated how their acquired expertise is transforming medical services, equipment management, and hospital operations across the country. These remarkable achievements were highlighted at the sixth Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) Global Alumni Assembly, hosted at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala.

Held under the theme “RE-CONNECT: Reconnecting Alumni, Expertise, Communities and Legacy,” the gathering brought together more than 120 participants to evaluate the impact of the fellowship program. Since Uganda joined the Dr Lee Jong-wook Fellowship Program in 2010, more than 160 local health professionals have traveled to South Korea for specialized training. Furthermore, KOFIH has backed 15 alumni-led initiatives since 2021, injecting approximately $297,000 into practical projects designed to elevate healthcare delivery.

Individual beneficiaries have already reported major milestones in their respective fields. Kato Hussein, a 2019 fellowship alumnus, advanced his career to become a registered biomedical engineer and serves as secretary of the National Advisory Committee on Medical Equipment. Meanwhile, Leila Naluyima revolutionized local operating theatre procedures by creating a comprehensive orientation manual, tracking surgical cancellations, and enhancing autoclave operations.

At Butenga Health Centre IV, Dr. Mwebe Posiano spearheaded remarkable facility upgrades that caused monthly patient admissions to skyrocket from roughly 50 to over 2,000. Monthly caesarean sections at the center also climbed from a modest five to ten up to more than 80, with total monthly deliveries now exceeding 250.

During the assembly, Director General of Health Services Professor Charles Olaro encouraged alumni to thoroughly document and share successful interventions for nationwide replication. Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja similarly emphasized the critical value of human capital in medicine, noting that robust health systems rely entirely on skilled personnel. Looking ahead, KOFIH plans to expand cooperation with Uganda in vital sectors like cancer care, tuberculosis, emergency medical services, and equipment management ahead of its tenth anniversary in 2027.

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