[By H. J Yook]Korea Human Resource Development Institute for Health and Welfare, KOHI(President, Lee Sang-yong) successfully concluded ‘Health Policy and Health Program Management in Iraq KRG’ with KOICA, as part of Korea‘s ODA plans to contribute to improving the world’s health index, including MDGs. 20 trainees, including government officials and medical doctors or dentists from the Iraq KRG region were invited to the program for 3 weeks.

The course provided trainees with a platform to learn the successful Korean health policies and management skills, find out strengths and weaknesses of health policy in the region, and make practical and evidence-based action plans suitable for the region. Quality lecturers from university, Korea CDC, and medical schools helped the trainees learn and understand the lectures throughout the course. The trainees also visited the Ministry of Health and Welfare, HIRA(Health Insurance Review and Assesment Service), Yongigun public health center, Soonchunhyang University MCH center, Gangdong Sacred Heart Hospital to see and learn Korea's health systems.

To understand the Korean culture better, the trainees went to the ‘Jeonju Bibimbop festival’, ‘Suncheon reed festival’, ‘Saemangeum reclaimed land’, and ‘Naeso temple’.
“I see why Korea has become a such a nice and developed country.” said Sarwar Sadiq, Director of the Ministry of Health in Duhok. “Every bit of environment here was conducive to studying, and I will help my ministry in applying what I learned here.” he added.

Successful conclusion of‘Health Policy and Health Program Management in Iraq KRG’is expected to contribute to the achievement of MDGs 6 of participating countries and the world.

KOHI has been running various programs, including community healthcare development program and infectious disease control program, to contribute to improvement of the world's health.