Day 5: Fighting tuberculosis in North Korea

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To give some perspective, the UN estimates that there are 600 hospitals in North Korea. Why focus on TB when there are so many other medical needs? Dr. Linton said that making progress against the nation's top killer will give patients the confidence to see the doctor for other maladies. Essentially, it opens up the mind to the possibility that medicine can do wondrous things.

“Eugene Bell has always been a vehicle, no more and no less, connecting people who care with people who need help,” said Linton.

In his entire presentation, I never heard him talk about his Presbyterian faith. There is no proselytizing when medicine and supplies are delivered in North Korea. But his simple presence in a land of a forgotten people is surely a guiding light.

Editor's Note: For the next two weeks, Star editor Randy Smith will be traveling with a dozen U.S. journalists in both North and South Korea. The trip, set up through the Gatekeeper Editor's program with the International Reporting Project, provides journalists with a glimpse of countries often in the news but not well covered. Look for regular updates at KansasCity.com. Send questions or comments to him at rsmith@kcstar.com.

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