Jeonnam Province Prioritizes Safety of Mothers and Newborns During Lunar New Year Holiday

Establishment of a 24-Hour Emergency Medical Response System
Operation of Hotlines Between Medical Institutions

Exterior view of Hyundai Women's Hospital. Provided by Jeonnam Province

Jeollanam-do will operate a regionally integrated medical response system during the Lunar New Year holiday to ensure the safety of high-risk pregnant women and newborns.

High-risk pregnancies and neonatal conditions often include complications requiring special measures, such as premature birth, low birth weight, and maternal illnesses like hypertension or diabetes. Timely and appropriate intervention is crucial to prevent long-term health issues or loss of life.

From January 25, the start of the holiday, to February 2, for a total of nine days, Jeollanam-do will spare no effort to protect high-risk mothers and newborns by establishing hotlines between maternity and neonatal medical institutions, securing reserve beds in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), and operating a 24-hour on-call duty system.

The hotline will be jointly operated by Jeollanam-do, local cities and counties, regional maternal and child medical centers, and delivery hospitals as part of a collaborative system.

The regional maternal and child medical center, Hyundai Women and Children’s Hospital, will operate a reserve NICU bed (one bed) to prepare for multiple births and high-risk maternal care situations. In addition, neonatologists and pediatric specialists will be on standby 24 hours a day during the holiday period to respond to emergencies.

Nine delivery hospitals in Jeollanam-do, including Mokpo Hansarang Hospital and Suncheon Miz Women and Children’s Hospital, will participate. Each hospital will operate obstetrics and pediatrics wards and maintain a 24-hour standby system.

Lee Sangsim, Director of Health and Welfare at Jeollanam-do, said, “Through this Lunar New Year response system, we expect to strengthen the medical safety net for mothers and newborns, and to protect their health and safety by providing prompt and accurate medical services even in emergencies.”