Jiyeongmi, Director of KDCA, "We Will Protect Public Health from Emerging Infectious Diseases and Chronic Illnesses"

"C Hepatitis Eradication to Be Accelerated"
Strategies to Eradicate Tuberculosis, Malaria, and AIDS Also Promoted

Jiyoungmi, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), promised to implement policies this year to protect the health of the people from infectious diseases, chronic illnesses, and health risk factors.

Yonhap News

On the 2nd, Commissioner Ji stated in her New Year's address, "We will accelerate efforts to strengthen proactive preparedness and response capabilities against emerging infectious diseases," adding, "We will continuously assess and improve national response capabilities through integrated pandemic response tabletop exercises involving multiple ministries, local governments, and medical institutions."

She also plans to refine strategies for the ongoing management and eradication of infectious diseases. Commissioner Ji said, "We will establish a follow-up management system for the hepatitis C national health screening program introduced this year to expedite the eradication of hepatitis C, while also refining and advancing strategies to eliminate tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS."

Commissioner Ji stated, "In response to the ultra-aged society, we will newly plan projects for elderly and frailty prevention as well as community-based complex chronic disease management," and added, "We will strengthen safety nets against health risk factors by establishing a central injury center and formulating a comprehensive plan."

She also said, "We will simultaneously enhance research and planning capabilities so that the KDCA can serve as a control tower for infectious disease and healthcare research," and "We will prioritize the support project for messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine development, a core technology for future pandemic preparedness and response."

Efforts to lead global health security and public health will continue. Commissioner Ji emphasized, "We will share the KDCA’s achievements in infectious disease preparedness and response, chronic disease research, and healthcare research with the World Health Organization (WHO) and key international partners," and "We will walk together with the public in their daily lives to find better solutions so that the health of the people can be sustained."