Yonsei Institute
for Global Health

1) Please introduce yourself. 

1. My name is GODLOVE PETER MFUKO. I am 41 years old. I am married to MWANAMVUA GUGU (38) and we are blessed with four (4) wonderful children; CHELSEA, a girl (DOB – 2007.05.10), CASH, a boy (DOB – 2014.05.10), MIA, a girl (DOB – 2016.02.12) and THOMAS KING, a boy (DOB – 2017.03.10). MWANAMVUA is also a medical doctor but not practicing since early 2016, due to the short inter-pregnancy interval between our last ‘Irish twins’, MIA and THOMAS, so that she could take good care of them! Therefore, I am currently the sole bread earner of the family and I am super comfortable with it!

2) Where is your working place back in your country and what is your specialty? 

1. I am employed by the Muhimbili National Hospital, the provider of the highest level of health care in Tanzania and the teaching hospital for Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (the oldest and the top notch public medical university in the country). The Hospital and the University are both located in Dar es salaam, the major commercial city of Tanzania. I am an Otorhinolaryngologist and a Clinical Lecturer.

3) How did you get to know Severance? Why did you choose Severance as your training hospital? 

1. I knew Severance through a few doctors in my country who enjoyed variable stints in the recent past as international fellows here. Choosing Severance as my training hospital was inspired by PROF. SEUNG KON HUH, a retired Neurosurgeon and Professor Emeritus of Yonsei University College of Medicine, who currently works as a coach and mentor for young neurosurgeons in Tanzania. Professor Huh is also a Dr. Avison Missionary in Africa particularly in Tanzania.

4) How long do you stay in Korea? 

1. My tenure here was scheduled from 2020.01.02 to 2020.06.30.

5) Which area did you focus on during your fellowship at Severance? 

1. I basically focused on Neurotology (Dizziness, Vertigo and Neurology of Balance) and also spent an appreciable amount of time in Otology and Cranial Base Surgery.

6) What was most impressive at Severance Hospital? 

1. The most impressive feature of Severance Hospital that caught my attention are the state-of-the-art equipment, an incredibly well-organized system, and most importantly how everyone here shows great attention to detail in everything they do. Among other things, the adoption of the medical culture that is focused on customers makes Severance Hospital to deservedly claim the accolades of being one of the World’s leading center of excellence in modern and comprehensive medical care inspired by the practice of the love of God.

7) What are the specific contents of your fellowship at Severance? 

1. Specific contents of my fellowship program here at Severance are; weekly tutorials in neurotology with my professor (Mondays), Outpatient clinics (Tuesdays and Thursdays), weekly audiology and equilibrium lab work (mainly Thursdays), surgical placement in OR - observing major and minor surgeries for neurotology, otology and skull base (throughout the week), weekly attendance in morning clinical meetings (Neurotology on Tuesdays, Cochlear Implantation on Wednesdays, and Vestibular on Fridays) and participating in various workshops, courses, seminars, and conferences. Besides, I was also honored to participate in several case reports submitted for publication in the Otology and Neurotology Journal by my co-supervisor PROF. IN SEOK MOON.

8) If you could come back to Severance, which area would you like to study more? 

1. I would still focus on Neurotology. Severance Hospital has put in place a comprehensive system of care that is tremendous to say the least. The Audio-Vestibular testing equipment; The Rotary Chair System, the Equitest Posturography System, the Calorics, the VEMPs, the VNG, the EcoG, the ABR and OAEs to mention but a few, are simply perfect and world-class in the diagnosis, management and follow up of patients with neurotological conditions. I will be the very first Neurotologist in my country upon completion of my fellowship training. It goes without saying that a chance of coming back here to sharpen my skills in the near future is something I cannot afford to lose.

9) Who are you most thankful to at Severance and why? 

1. The one person whom I am indebted to for his sincere assistance and constant support during my whole period of training here is none other than my professor and supervisor, PROF. SUNG HUHN KIM of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Yonsei University College of Medicine. Professor Kim would welcome questions, suggestions and opinions regarding my training in the most amicable way possible and never did he pretend to know it all. Not to mention the many occasions that he had invited me to explore some serious Korean delicacies for dinner! If I am to sum him up in one sentence, I would say that professor Kim is the smartest high volume Neurotologist and yet the coolest person of his caliber I have ever met in my career so far!

10) What was your first impression of Korea? 

1. In all honesty, my initial impression of Korea was totally different from what I had anticipated before coming and what really shocked me was the attitude of the people! Never before have I visited a society of people with such warmness and sincerity. I encountered a lot of difficulties, and still do, on the issue of language barrier since Koreans can hardly speak English, or to put it plainly, majority cannot speak English, but I consider this drawback negligible given how good and respectful Korean people are. I have read about ‘noonchi’ and wish that this ‘Korean version of emotional intelligence’ would be benchmarked by the people of all nations!

11) What was the best memory during your stay in Korea? 

1. Apart from the training, work and learning environment that was simply amazing and superb, the best memory so far during my stay here is obviously the people’s positive attitude especially in their faithful adherence to the practice of respect not only to the traditional ‘parent, teacher, and king’ but also to everyone regardless of their social class, race, gender or age. Moreover, I will always miss the Korean barbecue, the ‘gogi-gui’; the cuisine method of grilling meat on gas or charcoal grills inlaid into the dining table itself!

12) What are your thoughts and feelings about the way Korea is dealing with COVID-19, and what is the situation like in your home country?

1. I think South Korea has displayed an unprecedentedly aggressive and yet non-draconian approach towards COVID-19 since the surge of cases in the city of Daegu in late February. My thoughts are, firstly, the attitude of the people especially in adhering to the social distancing measures and South Korea’s strategy of ‘test-trace-and-treat’ helped a lot. Secondly, South Korea has one of the best Health Insurance Systems in the World that covers everyone. The extensive testing including the ‘drive-through’ testing centers was/is key to South Korea’s low community transmission and case fatality rates. In my home country, Tanzania, the Government through the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, has put in place deliberate measures to curb the transmission since the first reported case of covid-19 in mid-March. The major challenge so far is the inadequacy of medicines, medical equipment and medical supplies including face masks, sanitizers and PPEs for frontline healthcare workers. Intensive care facilities and ventilators are also scarce. Factors like a weaker economy and people’s insight and attitude towards COVID-19 contribute a lot to the ailing situation in my home country.