Japan
The agreement provides for a joint cooperation between the St. Mary of Kurume Children’s Hospital and Bambino Gesù, with the aim of promoting mutual exchange, working together on the Catholic approach to medical ethics, supporting and strengthening pediatric care in countries in need.
Five points for
planning future activities
The first point concerns the development of collaboration in Cambodia.
During the preliminary meetings, 4 possible areas of collaboration were identified:
- Mobile clinic project
- Neonatology project
- Distance learning
- Midwifery program
The second point concerns the analysis of the health situation in the countries of South-East Asia.
The third point concerns the Course of Medical Ethics. The course includes a preliminary meeting and 5 webinars.
The fourth point concerns the translation into Japanese of the “New card for health professionals”. The purpose is to make this document central to the guidance of St. Mary’s Hospital, as well as central to all Catholic hospitals in Japan.
The fifth point concerns the possibility of developing a network with the Catholic Health Association of Asia and in particular the Catholic Health Association of South Korea.
Background
The origin of St. Mary’s Educational Corporation is Ide Medical Office, which was opened in Kurume City in 1915. Yozo Ide, who was the director of the hospital, was an enthusiastic Catholic and a selfless doctor who served the poor who were unable to receive adequate medical treatment.
After the World War Ⅱ, in 1953, St. Mary’s Hospital, Our Lady of the Snow Medical Corporation was established. Ichiro Ide, the former Director, succeeded Yozo, his father, and dedicated the Corporation to the Virgin Mary and renamed it “Our Lady of the Snows.”
The basic guiding principle of the Corporation was to popularize medical treatment and education based upon the Catholic Spirit of Love. Therefore, the main role of medical care activities of St. Mary’s Hospital is to provide medical care to the community. This, in fact, has been demonstrated through the provision of first-aid medical care activities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year since 1964.
St. Mary’s High School of Nursing, a nursing school attached to St. Mary’s Hospital, was established in 1973. It was the predecessor of the present St. Mary’s College. Later it became St. Mary’s Specialized School of Nursing. In 1986 it became St. Mary’s Junior College and offered a three-year Nursing Course plus a one-year Graduate Course in Community Health Nursing and Midwifery.
In April 2006, St. Mary’s College was inaugurated and now offers a four-year program. In June 2006, we became a member of the JACU (Japan Association of Catholic Universities).
In April 2010, the college established its Graduate School, offering an M.S. program in nursing as well as CNS courses. In April 2013, the Advanced Midwifery Course was added to the Faculty of Nursing.
The Ide family has been committed, since the birth of St. Mary Hospital of Kurume, to trying to carry forward the Catholic spirit in the care of those who suffer, trying to represent this in all the operational aspects of the hospital.
The Project
Project partners
St. Mary’s Hospital of Kurume
Expiration
2024
Pediatric specialties
Bioethics, Palliative care
Activities 2023
OPBG missions:
• 2 institutional missions
Seminars:
• 1 Bioethics course
The President of St. Mary Hospital invited an OPBG delegation on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Kurume Hospital.
