(Untitle)Boosting survival rates by preventing secondary infection
On May 2, SK chemicals (Vice Chairman and CEO Kim Chang-geun), together with the Korea Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and the Federation for Inter-Korea Medical Cooperation, announced a pharmaceutical support plan for North Korea. The extent of the support will include 800 bottles containing 200 Cefaclor capsules each, equivalent to the value of 103.36 million won.
Since the end of last year, North Korea has suffered outbreaks of a number of epidemics including typhoid, scarlet fever, and paratyphoid. Currently, eastern costal areas including Cheongjin and Wonsan, as well as northern areas including Haesan are seeing the spread of scarlet fever, but the North Korean authorities have been unable to take effective measures other than evacuating residents.
As such, according to reports, the movement of people within the country is being controlled and commercial activities have been restricted. It has also been reported that deaths are on the increase due to a lack of drugs and the prevalence of malnutrition.
Epidemics, which usually affect people in their 30s to 40s, are spreading to vulnerable children, are not necessarily fatal diseases that threaten the patients’ lives. However, due to a lack of drugs in hospitals and their consequent high price in North Korea, only a small part of the population is benefiting from drug treatment.
Cefaclor 250mg, a comprehensive antibiotic that SK chemicals will provide to North Korea, is expected to effectively decrease the threat of secondary infection which can occur when the opportune moment to inject antibiotics is missed.
As part of its neighbor help program to help the residents of backward areas with their hygiene, health, medical services and education, SK chemicals will provide the drugs to North Korea’s Red Cross via the Federation for Inter-Korea Medical Cooperation.