DPRK allows transparent distribution of essential drugs
The Washington-based Institute for Strategic Reconciliation (ISR) has announced today that its 3-member medical delegation to DPR Korea has confirmed the very transparent distribution of the ISR essential drugs in a 20-foot container to hospitals and clinics in North and South Pyongan Province, North Hwanghae Province, South Hamkyung Province, and part of Pyongyang city. The ISR has shipped a 20-foot container of essential drugs on November 23, 1999, confirmed its arrival at Port Nampo on December 29, 1999, and arranged distribution around late January of this year.
The Reconciliation Ambassadors with Medicines (RAMs), the 2nd delegation of the ISR in 6 months, has worked in DPRK Feb. 22 to Feb. 29 to survey the progress of "Project Reconciliation Child" focusing on caring for the medicine needs of emaciated children and pregnant/nursing women of DPR Korea.
DPR Korea Ministry of Public Health and medical doctors have expressed their heart-felt gratitude to the ISR delegation led by President Asaph Young Chun, who replied in turn, "The medical aid is a small gift from ordinary Americans including both Koreans and non-Koreans." Chun has extended the hope of compassionate Americans toward reconciliation between DPRK and USA. "The ISR's RAMs is a servant passing such a reconciliation hope with a medical aid."
Drs. Sam H. Yoon and In G. Kim, Korean American medical doctors in RAMs, have been allowed to make on-the-spot observation of several medical facilities, and learned further critical needs of medicines and medical equipments by engaging in face-to-face talk with competent medical doctors and public health specialists of DPRK. "Korean medical professionals in DPRK and USA have become friends in the field," Chun observed. It appeared that culturally sensitive Korean American professionals help warm a cold relation between governments of Korea and America.
Among others, the ISR aid has included Antibiotics (22,000 capsules of Amoxicillin/500 mg, 6,000 capsules of Ampicilin/500 mg, 600 vials of Ceftriaxone Sodium 500 mg, and Erythromycin Ethylsuccinate 400 mg to treat 14,400 patients), Analgestic/antipyretic medicines (Acetaminophen 80 mg to treat about 30,000 children, Ibuprofen 200g to treat over 100,000 patients, and Acetaminophen 500 mg to treat 70,000 patients), Cardiovascular (100,000 capsules of Nifedipine 200mg, 72,000 tablets of Verapamil Hydrochloride 120 mg), Ulcer medicines/Antacid to treat about 35,000 patients, and Oral Rehydration Salts to treat over 6,000 children suffering from diarrhoea. All these medicines are estimated to treat over 600,000 patients for a week, according to the WHO standards. The medicines all with effective due dates had been prepared on the basis of the list of drugs which DPRK had asked during the ISR's visit in last September.
The Washington-based ISR is an independent think tank seeking to restore reconciliation where conflict exists by engaging in scientific, cultural, educational, humanitarian, and religious research. The ISR addresses policy challenges promoting international and national reconciliation, and facilitates conflict resolution policy research and studies in civilian and government programs. The ISR is incorporated in the state of Virginia. The ISR is a founding member of the InterAction DPR Korea Working Group, a consortium of over 30 international NGOs working in DPR Korea.
The 3rd RAMs of the ISR are scheduled to work in DPRK in June. For more information or participation, contact ISR at 301.570.3948, 301.570.0911 (fax), or ISR@Ureach.com. You may help send critical medicines to children and pregnant/nursing women of DPRK by sending your generous donation (payable to ISR) to:
The Institute for Strategic Reconciliation,
Inc.
18510 Shadowridge Terrace, Olney, MD 20832, USA
E-mail: ISR@Ureach.com
Voice: 301.570.3948 FAX: 301.570.0911
Mission Statement
The Washington-based ISR is an independent think tank seeking to restore reconciliation where conflict exists by engaging in scientific, cultural, educational, humanitarian, and religious research. The ISR addresses policy challenges promoting international and national reconciliation, and facilitates conflict resolution policy research and studies in civilian and government programs.
Vision Statement
The Institute for Strategic Reconciliation shall be a most powerful source of information, research, and experience by the year 2002 to fulfill global responsibilities of reconciliation. These responsibilities will be carried out by a new generation of reconciliation builders empowered to give up their own comfort, volunteers prepared to build up a new generation of reconciliation leadership, and American private organizations transformed to use up their strength and diversity in producing sustainable reconciliation and peace.
Program Objectives
The ISR's program focus in 2000 - 2002 is on conducting both the humanitarian research and the U.S. public policy research. The humanitarian research includes research of food relief, sustainable agricultural development, and restoration of public health infrastructure in DPR Korea, and other regions in conflict in Asia.
The U.S. public policy research includes research of policy-educational programs in governments and think tanks to empower Asian Americans, and research of American educational resources to assist foreign students studying in the States. Other programs meeting the ISR mission are considered.
Legal Structure
The ISR's organizational structure consists of a board of trustees, and an advisory council. The ISR's research programs and management are implemented by fully abiding the U.S. laws and being transparent to the public.
Finances and Audit
The Institute's operating budget is provided by corporate and individual donors. The institute programs also are supported by grants and endowments made by private foundations and governments. The Institute's annual finance report is audited by a certified public accountant.
Institute Operations
The following centers and affiliated researchers implement the Institute programs: Center for Humanitarian Relief and Development Center for Public Health Studies Center for Foreign Policy Studies Center for Economic Studies Center for Educational Programs Center for Information Technology Center for Legal Studies Center for Survey Research Institute Staff Directors; Associate Directors; Senior Fellows; Senior Research Fellows; Research Associates; Adjunct Research Fellow, Visiting Fellows, Guest Scholars Research Assistants; Research Interns Institute Lawyer: John Lindow, Attorney at law
Institute Board of Trustees
Young Chun, President, Inhwa Sohn, Chairman, Baik, Soon, Vice Chairman, Senior Economist, US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Jo, Kwang Dong, Editor-in-chief, The Korea Times Chicago Kang, Paul D., Associate Treasurer, President, Washington R & I, Inc. Kim, Linsoo, Professor, School of Business Management, Korea University, Seoul Kim, Sang Jin, Treasurer, CEO, Kwang Jin Trading Company Kim, Sung Jin, Senior Investigator, National Institute of Health Koh, Do Yim, Chairman, Sacred Heart Foundation, Seoul Lee, Kevin, Associate Treasurer, CEO, Kevin Lee Insurance and Co., TX Lee, Mahn Yul, Professor, Department of History, Sookmyung University, Seoul Nah, Kwang Sam, Vice Chairman, President of the 21st Century Joseph Movement Oh, Jung Hyun, Chairman of Operation Mobilization Korea, Paik, Won Kil, former Vice President of the National Council of Korean Presbyterian Churches Pak, James D., Secretary, Attorney at law of Pillsbury, Madison and Sutro law firm