Gwangju Nam-gu Launches Emergency Hospital Escort Service for Sick Children

Up to 50 Accompanied Hospital Visits Per Year
From Medical Checkup to Returning Home

Gwangju Namgu District Office building exterior.

Gwangju Nam-gu (District Mayor Kim Byungnae) announced on the 7th that it will launch a new specialized project under the Euddeumhyo Integrated Care program, which provides a one-stop accompaniment service for taking sick children to the hospital, from medical examination to returning home.

The Emergency Hospital Accompaniment Service for Sick Children was established to build a community-based customized care system and to address care gaps in families, such as those with working parents.

The district has signed an agreement with the Gwangju Women's Family Foundation to implement the project. This is because building a platform is necessary to accompany sick children to the hospital, and cooperation from a public institution with substantial experience in providing care services is essential.

This project targets children aged 4 to 18 who are registered residents within the district. As of the end of last year, there were approximately 32,461 preschoolers and elementary, middle, and high school students living in the area. Among them, the number of preschoolers and elementary students was found to be 5,856 and 13,529, respectively.

The service provides a dedicated staff member who uses a vehicle to pick up the child from home, accompany them to the hospital, receive medical treatment and medication, and then return home, notifying the guardian of the results by phone. Each child can use the service up to 50 times per year on weekdays only, and there is no service fee. However, medical and medication costs are the responsibility of the guardian.

To use the emergency hospital accompaniment service, membership registration is required either on the Gwangju Aikiwoom website or by calling the Gwangju Women's Family Foundation. When registering, a deposit of 30,000 won must be made in advance for medical and medication expenses, which will be settled by deducting the amount used.

A district official stated, "With the implementation of this project, we expect significant improvements in the care environment, allowing families to harmoniously balance work and home life while raising children."