<span class="gmail_quote"><br></span><span class="gmail_quote"></span>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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For more information, please contact:<br>
Alice Suh<br>
202-329-2410<br>
<a href="mailto:alice@eugenebell.org" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">alice@eugenebell.org</a><br>
<br><span style="font-weight: bold;">Spring 2006 Trip to the DPR Korea (North Korea)</span><br style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Significant and Unexpected Advances </span><br><br>Seoul,
Korea 24 May 2006--Returning from a two-week visit to remote medical
facilities in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea),
the Eugene Bell Foundation today announced significant and unexpected
advances in access, program development and medical training in the
country. <br> <br>The six-person delegation from EugeneBell was in
North Korea from May 9th to May 20th and visited medical facilities in
South Pyongan Province and the Nampo City areas. <br> <br>Although
this was a regularly scheduled visit to medical facilities enrolled
under EugeneBell's Partner Package Program, the delegation reported
several exciting new developments. <br> <br>Despite continuing
diplomatic tensions over the stalled Six Party Talks, EugeneBell's
delegation was given a warm reception. While EugeneBell normally enjoys
unusual access, not for several years has a visit included every single
institution on the delegation's request list. The delegation visited
nineteen local hospitals and tuberculosis treatment facilities in
all. <br><br>This spring's visit also marked the beginning
of a new program focused on pre-natal and infant nutrition. Thanks to a
generous donation from Kirk Humanitarian, an initial agreement was
concluded on a new nutrition program to be based in the South Pyongan
Province Children's Hospital in Pyongsong City. As support is
identified, the new nutrition supplement program will be extended to
the pediatric departments of the more than twenty local hospitals in
South Pyongan Province. Most of the local hospitals visited on this
trip reported they had never received a regular supply of
vitamins. <br> <br>Finally, the delegation also met with
officials from the Ministry of Public Health and Korean American
People's Exchange Society (KAPES) to formalize arrangements for a
conference on multi-drug resistant tuberculosis to be held this summer
in the United States. A five-member delegation from the DPRK will
attend the conference and visit tuberculosis treatment facilities in
several American cities.<br><br>In all, the delegation experienced one
of the most relaxed and productive visits ever, evidence that
EugeneBell's ten-year effort to improve the lives of ordinary citizens
continues to gain wide support within North Korea.<br><br>-- <br>Alice Jean Suh<br>Washington Office Director<br>Eugene Bell Foundation<br><a href="mailto:alice@eugenebell.org" target="_blank" onclick="return top.js.OpenExtLink(window,event,this)">
alice@eugenebell.org</a><br>+1-202-429-3877 (direct office)
<br>+1-202-429-6063 (fax)<br><br>Eugene Bell Foundation<br>PO Box 18614, Washington, DC 20036-8614<br>
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