Korea: Archdiocese of Seoul expands welfare programs

Volunteer doctor treating patient at Raphael Nanum Homeless clinic in Seoul

Source: Archdiocese of Seoul

The Archdiocese of Seoul not only provides free meals, but also offers health care services to the homeless. On 13 June the 'Raphael Nanum (caring, sharing) Homeless Clinic,' was formally inaugurated as part of the collaborative project between the Archdiocese and One Body One Spirit Movement, located within 'Myeongdong Babjib', the Soup Kitchen of the Seoul Archdiocese. This is a free health clinic, staffed and run by volunteers who are doctors, nurses, medical students and lay Catholics from Lay Apostolate Society.

Many hospitals which were designated to serve homeless people have not been able to provide medical care due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. These church initiatives are helping to fill the gap.

Started in 2015, the Foundation has shared its medical support both domestically and internationally, providing free medical checkups and assistance to immigrant workers and developing countries.

One Body One Spirit Movement (OBOS) is a faith-based organisation that believes in hope, life and love. It was initiated at the 44th International Eucharistic Congress held in Seoul in 1989, to apply the profound the meaning of Eucharist to our daily life. Through Catholic Social Teaching, in the Spirit of the Eucharist, we work to make a more peaceful world.

Since the establishment of the organization by the late Cardinal Stephen Kim Sou-hwan in 1988, as part of Caritas Seoul, it has been working in many fields such as international development cooperation, domestic social welfare work and life-sharing movement.

In advance of opening the Raphael Nanum Clinic, a health survey of homeless people who had visited the Myeongdong Babjib was conducted for three weeks in order to identify and evaluate the health status and general needs of the homeless population. Based on the survey results, the Clinic offers various services in three sections: Internal Medicine, Orthopaedics, and Urology.

Volunteer doctors are available on Sundays to provide medical examinations and prescribe medication to homeless patients while helping those with urgent health needs to be transferred directly to an emergency medical centre. There were 13 visits by patients on the first day of the Clinic. This has increased now to an average of 80 patients per day.

Cardinal Andrew Yeom, Archbishop of Seoul, blessed the opening of the 'Raphael Nanum Homeless Clinic'. During the ceremony, Cardinal Yeom said: "Let us welcome and embrace our homeless neighbours as the angels of the Lord. I deeply thank each and every one of you for devoting your time and effort to this amazing work. I sincerely ask of the Lord to come into your lives and offer you special grace."

Teresa Curie Ahn, Director of the Board of Raphael Nanum Foundation, added: "We will do our utmost to continue improving the health status of socially excluded groups by reaching out to them."

The Raphael Nanum Homeless Clinic is planning to gradually expand its services to include dental care to homeless people.

Since May, the Soup Kitchen Myeongdong Babjib, managed by Seoul Archdiocese has moved from from serving packed lunches to offering a proper meal service. Myeongdong Babjib offers the homeless meals every Wednesday and Friday at 3pm. On Sundays the service is by Myeongdong Cathedral. An average of 500 to 600 people visited the Soup Kitchen.

This project aims to not only distribute meals to the homeless, but also offers access to safe places to wash and do laundry It provides an opportunity for homeless people to become active agents of their lives and reintegrate back into society.

LINK

Archdiocese of Seoul - https://aos.catholic.or.kr/index