Sunday, May 02, 2010

WHO Knew?

North Korea is a cesspool of poverty, hunger, and oppression. But the gulag with a UN seat does have a bright spot. The WHO director-general visited North Korea and came away impressed with North Korea's health care system:

North Korea -- which does not allow its citizens to leave the country -- has no shortage of doctors and nurses, in contrast to other developing countries where skilled healthcare workers often emigrate, she said.

This allows North Korea to provide comprehensive healthcare, with one "household doctor" looking after every 130 families, said the head of the United Nations health agency, praising North Korea's immunization coverage and mother and child care.

"They have something which most other developing countries would envy," Chan told a news conference, noting that her visit was a rare sign of the communist state's willingness to cooperate with outside agencies.

Ah, the big nuanced brains of the sainted international community at work!

The international community looks down their noses at our pre-hope and change health care system. But has good things to say about North Korea's system. Who knew Pyongyang was so advanced?

I'd say I don't know whether to laugh or cry, but clearly both are a must. The only question is the order.