Im Seong-cheol, Head of the Gangnam-gu Branch of the Integrated Public Officials Union, Suggests Using Registered Mail from Community Centers to Deliver Masks to Vulnerable Groups Aged 80 and Above... District Office's Autonomous Administration Department Accepts Proposal, Implementation Starting from the 16th... Im's Thank You Message Draws Attention
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jeong Soon-gyun) has enabled the delivery of masks to vulnerable groups aged 80 and above via registered mail through the Dong Community Centers starting from the 16th.
This is due to Gangnam-gu Office's support for registered mail postage fees.
The Gangnam-gu branch of the Integrated Public Officials Union (Branch Chief Im Seong-cheol) announced this through a post titled "Thank you for supporting the postage fees of the Dong Community Centers in the Resident Autonomy Division" on the union bulletin board.
The union stated on the 15th, "After posting a notice on the union bulletin board on the 12th regarding the delivery of dental masks to those aged 80 and above at the Dong Community Centers, the union proceeded with consultations with the Resident Autonomy Division," adding, "We inform you that from the 16th, masks can be delivered to vulnerable groups using registered mail at the Dong Community Centers."
They also added, "The amount available for postage support is initially about 1 million KRW, but if more is needed, it can be arranged through prior consultation with the Resident Autonomy Division," and "Therefore, we hope that the welfare teams at the Dong Community Centers actively utilize the non-face-to-face method of registered mail to ensure that masks distributed by the Welfare Policy Division are prioritized for seniors aged 80 and above among the vulnerable groups."
Branch Chief Im expressed gratitude, saying, "We thank the head of the Resident Autonomy Division and all staff for supporting the postage fees to enable the use of registered mail."
Furthermore, he requested sufficient promotion of the fact that the dental (medical) masks distributed to vulnerable groups have the same effectiveness as KF94 masks in preventing COVID-19, and emphasized that staff should wear dental or reusable masks from the Resident Autonomy Division while inside government offices whenever possible.
Branch Chief Im stated, "Gangnam-gu Office employees are a community of fate with residents, and this remains true even in the current COVID-19 situation," adding, "For consistency and unity in administration, we also suggest that executives, including the district mayor, wear the same dental masks distributed to vulnerable groups when responding to the COVID-19 situation."
He recalled that when the COVID-19 situation was initially chaotic, the labor union proposed using budget to focus on quarantine and mask distribution, emphasizing that leadership participation and leading by example foster trust and respect for policies, rather than expecting only staff to comply.
Branch Chief Im said, "At first, the response was lukewarm and indifferent, but as the situation worsened and became serious, efforts to supply masks and enforce quarantine increased," adding, "Now that the situation may worsen and prolong, it is a time when promotion of good food information for sufficient rest, health maintenance, and immune system strengthening is necessary."
He particularly suggested that vulnerable groups should be provided not only with masks but also with immune-boosting products such as multivitamins and health supplements, which are relatively easy to purchase at pharmacies.
He pointed out that while healthy young people and those with a comfortable life may consider infectious diseases like colds trivial, for vulnerable groups, these can be frightening illnesses that may cause loss of both health and employment, thus emphasizing the need for economic support for vulnerable groups.
Branch Chief Im stated, "The welfare team staff of Nonhyeon 2-dong have trusted the policy decided on the 13th and have been distributing dental masks to vulnerable groups while wearing the same masks," emphasizing, "Departments handling the same complaints within the same district office should unify by using dental masks."
He concluded, "In the future, to use the limited staff more rationally and efficiently, each department should actively reflect necessary budgets such as registered mail fees and courier charges."
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