Kazakhstan Child with Laryngeal Papillomatosis Smiles After Surgery

Providing Tumor Removal Precision Surgery to 4-Year-Old Nureudana at Yesong ENT Clinic, Gangnam Partner Medical Institution, from May 1 to June 4

Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) brought hope through Medical Gangnam Sharing Healthcare to a Kazakhstani child suffering from laryngeal papillomatosis.

The Kazakhstani child Nurdana (SAPAR NURDANA, 4 years old) began showing symptoms such as breathing difficulties from 11 months after birth and was diagnosed with laryngeal papillomatosis at age 2. She underwent nine surgeries in her home country. However, due to frequent recurrences, her larynx narrowed, and unfortunately, she became unable to breathe on her own, requiring a tracheostomy surgery.

Gangnam-gu selected Nurdana, who could not receive precise treatment in her home country, as a recipient of the Gangnam Sharing Healthcare program and invited her to Korea for treatment. Nurdana and her family arrived in Korea on May 1 and underwent four laryngeal papillomatosis removal surgeries at Yesong ENT Clinic, a medical tourism partner institution. Originally, three surgeries were planned, but due to the tumor spreading severely into the airway, a fourth surgery was performed.

In this sharing healthcare initiative, Yesong ENT Clinic provided the laryngeal papillomatosis removal surgeries free of charge, and Gangnam-gu supported costs such as airfare and living expenses. The entire treatment process was documented in a promotional documentary video to be broadcast through Kazakhstani broadcasters to promote Gangnam-gu’s excellent medical technology.

Nurdana’s mother said, “With each surgery, my child’s breathing and sleep have improved greatly, and her expression has brightened,” adding, “We are very grateful to Gangnam-gu and Director Kim Hyung-tae of Yesong ENT Clinic for their generous support and efforts for my child.”

Since 2022, during the COVID-19 period, the overseas sharing healthcare project has been ongoing for three years to promote Gangnam’s outstanding medical technology abroad and realize the value of sharing. ▲ In 2022, it supported surgery for a Vietnamese youth with cleft lip and palate ▲ In 2023, it supported surgery for a Mongolian girl with syndactyly.

Meanwhile, in April, the district participated in the 2024 KITF (Kazakhstan International Tourism Fair) held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, together with six Gangnam medical tourism partner hospitals. They operated the ‘Gangnam Medical Tourism Promotion Center,’ attracting 2,400 visitors over three days who received consultations and experienced medical devices, and conducted 487 business meetings, targeting the Central Asian medical tourism market.

Five Gangnam partner medical institutions signed MOUs for post-care services with local Kazakhstani medical institutions such as DOSTAR MED and KERUEN MEDICUS. Patients who underwent surgery in Korea will receive follow-up care at partner hospitals in Kazakhstan, and both parties will share postoperative progress to enhance the safety and reliability of Gangnam medical tourism.

Jo Seong-myeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, stated, “Through overseas sharing healthcare, we provide hope to children who find treatment difficult in their home countries and promote Gangnam-gu’s excellent medical technology locally overseas,” adding, “As a representative city of medical tourism in Korea, we will pursue customized promotional strategies targeting blue ocean markets such as Central Asia and Southeast Asia to lead the growth of medical tourism.”