FORT WORTH: A not-for-profit is seeking funds to underpin a floating hospital in Korea.
It will be located in the southwestern part of the Korean peninsula. South Jeolla Province is home to 1,965 islands ― 62 per cent of all islands in the country. Of them, only 276 are inhabited.
One amongst them is Jangbyeongdo Island, which is about two hours away from its closest port of Mokpo. There are currently 91 residents, 26 of them aged 65 or older. Most of them make a living by digging for octopus in the mudflats and seaweed farming.
The Hospital Ship Jeonnam 512 will be one of the five hospital ships based in Mokpo which offers dental care, general medicine services and traditional Korean medicine.
The ship also houses a little pharmacy and a room for X-ray screenings and simple medical tests. There is one general physician, one dentist, and one traditional Korean medicine doctor. All treatments and prescribed drugs are free…