Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Honam Regional Disease Response Center, Infectious Disease Response Forum to Establish Infectious Disease Management Cooperation System

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Honam Regional Disease Response Center announced on the 7th that it held the '2023 Honam Region Infectious Disease (Diagnosis·Chronic) Management Capacity Building and Communication Improvement Forum' on the 5th at the Gwangju Kim Dae-jung Convention Center to share knowledge and field response experiences related to infectious diseases, diagnosis, and chronic diseases between the center and local government agencies, and to strengthen the cooperation system through capacity building and communication for infectious diseases.

About 140 participants attended the forum, including the Honam Regional Disease Response Center, Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeollabuk-do, Jeollanam-do, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, 51 city, county, and district public health centers within the jurisdiction, infectious disease control support groups, healthcare institution officials, and private experts, to promote the enhancement of infectious disease management capacity and cooperation in the Honam region.

At the forum, awards were given to public officials and private individuals who contributed to infectious disease prevention and management to boost morale. Professor Lee Joo-hyung of the Jeollabuk-do Infectious Disease Control Support Group delivered a keynote lecture explaining comprehensive and proactive management of statutory infectious diseases, including new pandemic preparedness and response measures.

Additionally, Professor Seo Jun-won of Chosun University Hospital, which is promoting the Honam regional infectious disease specialized hospital, shared related information with the Honam Center, local governments, and healthcare institutions about the project to establish a regional complete medical response system for new infectious diseases in preparation for new pandemics.

An official from the Honam Center's Infectious Disease Response Department emphasized the importance of cooperative governance among central, local, medical institutions, and private health organizations regarding the current status of infectious disease management at the regional center and future cooperation with local governments.

Along with this, to facilitate smooth cooperation between the government and private institutions, communication expert Professor Yoo Hyun-jae from Sogang University gave a communication lecture titled "Attaching Wings to the Mind," and in the chronic disease field, Professor Ryu So-young of Chosun University presented cases of overcoming chronic diseases in the Honam region.

Yoon Jeong-hwan, director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Honam Regional Disease Response Center, said, "I hope this forum becomes a valuable platform for exchange in infectious disease management and chronic disease response within the Honam region," adding, "The regional disease response center will continue to strive to create an environment where the collaboration system between local governments and related health institutions can operate stably."