Nowon-gu Operates 'Visiting Health Booths and Saturday Health Consultation Rooms'

Health booths visiting six high-traffic locations to operate weekly starting in March

Saturday Health Consultation Room operated to provide health management for office workers who find it difficult to use the center on weekdays

Systematic health management through regional health management centers to create a healthy Nowon

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is operating ‘Visiting Health Booths and Saturday Health Consultation Rooms’ to help residents systematically manage their health.

According to the Statistics Korea cause of death statistics, about 80% of deaths in South Korea are caused by chronic diseases. Chronic diseases impose high costs on patients and create significant socioeconomic burdens, which also exacerbate social inequality.

The district has established six health management centers by region (Nowon, Junggye, Wolgye, Gongneung, Sanggye, Madeul) to prevent and manage chronic diseases among residents. Nurses, nutritionists, and exercise specialists are stationed at the centers to provide professional health management services.

However, the current center registration rate has decreased by 40% compared to 2019 due to work interruptions caused by COVID-19. In response, the district has decided to actively promote the use of the centers among residents.

First, the district operates visiting health booths every week. At six locations with high foot traffic such as parks and rivers, health consultations and various public health projects will be introduced directly every Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., with a particular focus on promoting the centers.

After measuring individual blood pressure and blood sugar levels, health status consultations are provided, along with education on practicing a low-sodium diet and preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Correct health information is offered through a health OX quiz. Assistance is provided for joining and installing the walking app WalkOn to increase walking practice rates, and related projects are promoted in connection with the Mental Health Welfare Center and Dementia Safety Center.

Additionally, the Saturday Health Consultation Room is operated for office workers who find it difficult to use the centers on weekdays. Consultations are available on the fourth Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Nowon Health Management Center located on the second floor of the Nowon-gu Public Health Center. Same-day on-site registration and advance reservations by phone are possible.

One-on-one customized health consultations and education are provided through blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, waist circumference, body composition, and blood tests, with referrals to public health center programs (smoking cessation, alcohol reduction, mental health, etc.) and medical institutions as needed. Notably, since 2020, the Nowon Health Management Center has been integrated with a clinic where doctors develop personalized health management plans to help prevent chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

As of last year, the health management centers provide systematic lifelong health management services to 138,504 residents, accounting for 32.5% of the population aged 20 and over, which totals 426,317 people. Last year, about 10,000 new residents registered at the centers, contributing to improving residents’ health management skills through programs such as healthy diet composition, correct stretching techniques, and hypertension and diabetes classes.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “Through regional health management centers, systematic health management can be received free of charge nearby,” and added, “In the era of 100-year lifespans, the district will actively support young and middle-aged adults to develop health management skills early on so they can lead healthy and happy lives.”