Christian Association for Medical Missions

	The Christian Association for Medical Missions (CAMM)
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MISSION

Compassion for the Needy and the Poor.

Matthew 25:42-43, 45 (NIV)

42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat,
I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,
43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in,
I needed clothes and you did not clothe me,
I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.
45 He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

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PROJECTS

As you aware, the last two years of natural disasters in DPRK has led to an acute shortage of food, housing and clothing so we have shifted our attention to the urgent needs of life-threatening situations. We have sent $40,000 worth of corn, $150,000 worth of pharmaceutical supplies, 500 hospital beds, 1,000 blankets and sheets, and 10,000 doses of Hepatitis vaccine. Recently we sent brand-new medical textbooks of different specialties, journals and reference books worth $12,000 to The Third People's Hospital in Pyongyang.

We are presently organizing medical mission teams that will travel to the Third People's Hospital and treat patients in Pyongyang on rotational basis with 3-4 month intervals. We planned to focus on conditions of many children (approximately 80,000) who are near death by starvation and give Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) by intravenous route. Support from Non Governmental Organizations (World Medical Relief, Americare, etc.) and donations from concerned fellow Christians will give us chances to bring medical needs to our brethren in the DPRK.

We also plan to have medical conferences for both CAMM members and physicians from the DPRK to exchange ideas, medical experiences and future plans for the Third People's Hospital. Short term or long-term training of hospital staff from different parts of North Korea at Teaching Hospitals in the United States of America is also contemplated.

Support from Allied NGO's

World Medical Relief, Inc., Detroit, Michigan, USA.
Medisend International, Inc., Dallas, Texas, USA.
International Aid, Spring Lake, Michigan, USA.
The Presbyterian Church of USA.
King Pharmaceutical, USA.
Christian Ethics Movement in LA and Midwest, USA.
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Korea Food for Hungry International (KFHI), Seoul, South Korea.
Korea Foundation for World Aid (KFWA, formerly called Korea Welfare Foundation), Seoul, South Korea.

Highlights of Accomplishments

Shipment of medical and relief supplies and support for the Third People's Hospital

November 24 - December 1, 1998:
- Shipped by King Pharmaceutical: 12 Containers (20 Feet) of medicine, medical and hospital supplies, food, corn seeds and plastic film, etc.(over 5.271 million dollars worth) arrived at Nampo port of North Korea on November 26, 1998;
- Ordered by CAMM Midwest Chapter via MAP International: TB medicine for 100 patients for 300 days of treatment (216 kg, 14 packages, $9,324.50);
- A package from CAMM Main Chapter in Detroit for Pyongyang Third Hospital;
- Medicine, antibiotics, candy, gloves, and others - 10 packages carried by our mission team.

In May 1998, we forwarded a donation of $500,000 in medical equipment from the Michigan-based Christian Association for Medical Missions to the Third Hospital in Pyongyang and the General Hospital in Huichon via the vessel Mangyongbong that left Niigata for Wonsan on April 22. We now await word it got there as we did not accompany the donation. (Bernard Krisher as the Chairman, Internet Appeal for North Korean Flood Victims)
As you aware, the last two years (1995-1996) of natural disasters in DPRK has led to an acute shortage of food, housing and clothing so we have shifted our attention to the urgent needs of life-threatening situations. We have sent $40,000 worth of corn and $150,000 worth of pharmaceutical supplies. From 1993 to 1995, we sent 500 hospital beds, 1,000 blankets and sheets, and 10,000 doses of Hepatitis vaccine to the Third World Pyongyang Hospital and Pyongsung Medical School Hospital. We also sent brand-new medical textbooks of different specialties, journals and reference books worth $12,000 to The Third People's Hospital in Pyongyang.
From 1991-1995: CAMM sent hospital 500 Beds and blankets, pillows, and allied necessary hospital room equipment to the Third People’s Hospital before it opened and started operating its store in 1995.
From 1995-1998: Due to a natural disaster in the past century, the worst flood in North Korea's history in 1995, brought drought which devastated its farmland, and made a half a million people homeless and threatened the nation's food supply. CAMM sent $ 40,000 worth of corn flour and $20,000.00 worth of medical equipment, medication and medical supplies to North Korea.
In 1997: CAMM sent an ambulance to the Third People’s Hospital, Pyongyang, North Korea.
In 1997: CAMM sent $450,000 worth of antibiotics, medications, medical supplies, and medical equipment with the help of World Medical Relief, Inc.
April 1997: The Chicago chapter sent 10,000 dosages of Hepatitis B vaccine for the infants.
April 1998: The Chicago chapter sent $20,000.00 worth of farm needs; Plastic film (vinyl) in order to create a makeshift green house for growing vegetables.
In 1997: CAMM sent $120,000.00 worth of X-Ray machine and Fluoroscopy as well as X-Ray film with support of KFHI to the Third People’s Hospital, Pyongyang, North Korea.
In October 1998: CAMM sent $20,000.00 worth of laparoscopic surgical equipment sponsored by Presbyterian Church of USA to the Third People’s Hospital, Pyongyang, North Korea.
From 1991-1999: CAMM sent $ 2 million worth of medical equipment, medication and medical supplies, as well as medical textbooks, journals, and review books to The Third People’s Hospital, Pyongyang, North Korea.
November 2000: CAMM sent $430,000.00 worth of medical equipment, medication and medical supplies were sent to The Third People’s Hospital, Pyongyang, North Korea.
May 2001: CAMM sent a 5 ton truck to the Third People’s Hospital, Pyongyang, North Korea.
May 2001: The Chicago chapter sent farm needs; Plastic film (vinyl) in order to create a makeshift green house for growing vegetables, fertilizer, and seeds.
May 2001: The Chicago chapter sent 2,500 thermometers to the Third People’s Hospital, Pyongyang, North Korea.

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Activities of CAMM since 2001

In 2001, with the assistance of the Christian Ethics Movement in Los Angeles and Midwest chapter, CAMM sent 50 goats to North Korea at approximately $100 per goat secondary to the fact that there’s a shortage of cows to provide milk and many Asian people are lactose intolerant and cannot tolerate cow milk. The Christian Ethics Movement in LA has sent 500-600 goats thus far to North Korea as research has indicated that the breeding capacity of goats is remarkably high as opposed to any other milk producing animals.
April 2002: The Chicago chapter sent 4 types of Tuberculosis medications to the sanatorium of the Pyongsung Medical School.
April 2002: A 40 foot container of dental equipment, dental chairs, and dental supplies were sent to The Third People’s Hospital, Pyongyang, North Korea. The majority of the above mentioned dental equipment and supplies will be put in the future oral and dental hospital in Pyongyang, North Korea.
May 2002: A 40 foot container (29 sets) of dental equipment was sent to Pyongyang, North Korea.
November 2002: A 40 foot container of medical equipment and medical supplies, along with winter clothes and a well drilling machine ($8,000.00 worth) were sent to Pyongyang, North Korea with the help of World Medical Relief, Inc.
January 2003: A 40 foot container of medical equipment and medical supplies, along with medical textbooks, journals, and review books were sent to the Third People’s Hospital, Pyongyang, North Korea with the help of World Medical Relief, Inc.
February 2003: A 40 foot container (27 boxes) of dental supplies was sent to Pyongyang, North Korea.
April 2003: The Chicago chapter sent $20,000 worth of Tuberculosis medications to the Tuberculosis Sanatorium at Pyongsung Medical School.
December 2003: A 40 foot container of medical equipment, along with medical textbooks, journals, and review articles and books was sent to The Third People’s Hospital, Pyongyang, North Korea.
April 2004: A 20 foot container of medications was sent to Yong Chon Hospital in Yong Chon city, North Korea, where tragic explosions occurred to kill thousand people including school children and destroy building, houses, and railroads.
April 2004: $4,427.57 worth of medical textbooks was sent to the North Korean Cancer Institute.
August 2004: A Chemical reagent for Hematologic - Oncological test (cancer test) was sent to the North Korean Cancer Institute.
August 2004: A 20 foot container of medications was sent to the Third People’s Hospital, Pyongyang, North Korea.
September 2004: $14,532.00 worth of Tablet makers for medications was sent to the Third People’s Hospital, Pyongyang, North Korea.

Joint Medical Conferences in Pyongyang

So called "U.S.-DPRK (North Korea) Medical Science Exchange Committee" started in 1999 has been held at the end of April every year, with the exception of 2003, due to a pandemic respiratory infectious disease, SARS.

Learning from 16 years of operation since 1989

Key Learning

North Korean government shows openness to receiving humanitarian aid and educational assistance in the medical field.
Assuring that relief support and supplies reaches the intended end users is challenging due to the complex hierarchy of the communist party. In addition, there has been no diplomatic relationship between the USA and North Korea.
Non-governmental efforts driven by humanitarian motivations can contribute to facilitating the environment for dialogue between governments.

Key implications for future direction

CAMM has been frustrated and has made some mistakes because we are not really equipped in understanding communist country, which has only a vertical bureaucratic system.
The North Korea Freedom Act was passed by the congress of the USA and signed by President Bush a couple months ago so that CAMM can get some moral and administrative support from the United States Government.
We have yet to sponsor to bring North Korean Doctors to the USA to medical training.
Assurance of logistical success requires closer collaboration between CAMM and the government authorities of North Korea and communication not just limited to the end user groups.
Need to work on receiving commitment and establishing greater accountability, including methods for auditing the distribution of supplies and services.
Increased international public awareness through coordination of multi-party support and public relations may influence the North Korean government’s proper handling of relief missions.

HISTORY

The Christian Association for Medical Mission was first established in 1989 by a small group of Christian Korean-American physicians and businessmen living in Michigan with the purpose of providing medical assistance to the people in North Korea. The initial impetus for the organization came from Dr. Sai R. Park, who was invited by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to inspect their healthcare delivery system and provide advice on what assistance they needed in the form of facilities, equipment and medical technologies. Our team's initial visit to the DPRK in 1989 confirmed that their healthcare system was and still is far short of western standards and that considerable assistance was needed to modernize their medical facilities. They were also surprised to know that North Koreans were willing to receive outside help, especially from genuinely concerned CAMM members in America. They have also shown willingness to allow, albeit with some restrictions, Christian worship and sharing the Gospel with their people. CAMM quickly attracted many dedicated Korean-American physicians and businessmen and soon established branch offices in Atlanta, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Kansas, Los Angeles, New York, Minneapolis and Seattle.

In 1991, CAMM's objective and activities became more sharply focused when officials of the DPRK offered their newly-built hospital in Pyongyang, named The Third People's Hospital, to be the "CAMM" Hospital that we were to equip and supply, so that when it was completed, would be a showcase hospital in the application of western healthcare technology in the DPRK. During the past seven years we have been, with our own modest fundraising capability, assisting this 500-bed hospital to become an adequately equipped modern hospital with western standards.

In 1995, AKAPE (Association of Korean American Physicians for Evangelism, Elder David Cho as President) and CAMM (Dr. Moon J. Pak as President) joined together in a concerted effort for our cause and strengthened our organization. From then on our medical mission teams visited the DPRK many times with medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, medical journals and reference books for the hospital library and ambulances for their patients.

The hospital opened its doors in November of 1995 and is currently operational. Our CAMM member physicians visited the Third Pyongyang Hospital last September 26, 1997 and treated many Out-Patients as well as In-Patients in the operating room. They also visited Moonduk area to help needy people. When the operations become fully functional, visiting teams of physicians with varying specialties will be going there on a rotational basis in regular interval.

Recently, new shipment of medical equipment, Pedialytes, antibiotics, vitamins and wheel chairs were sent to The Third Pyongyang Hospital, worth $450,000 in large container through generous donation by World Medical Relief in Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Bernard Krisher has been an integral part of our shipping operation and his humanitarian support to the DPRK is well recognized worldwide.