The Jeonbuk Provincial Environmental Health Center (Director Kim Yong-hyun), designated by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and operated under contract by Jeonbuk National University (JBNU), conducted tailored environmental health education for pregnant women and other environmentally sensitive vulnerable groups, receiving strong public response.

This training was part of an environmental health education and outreach initiative for sensitive populations. It was designed to prevent pregnant women from being exposed to environmental hazards in daily life and to raise awareness of environmental health. The program's significance was enhanced by its support for field-based training in coordination with local public health centers' maternal and child health programs.

The Center solicited training applications from city and county public health centers across the province in April, then conducted three sessions: at Gimje City Public Health Center on June 30 and at Muju County Health and Medical Center on July 29 and August 5. Approximately 40 pregnant women participated in the training.

The program was structured with consideration for the physical and environmental characteristics of each stage of pregnancy. It provided environmental health information relevant to pregnant women, including prevention of heat-related illnesses, indoor air quality management, responses to environmental hazardous substances, and microplastics. It also guided practical prevention and management measures that can be applied in daily life. The lectures were delivered by Environmental Health Instructor Kim Young-seon of the Jeonbuk Provincial Environmental Health Center.

A participatory hands-on program was also offered. In addition to the upcycling activity "making needle pouches," meditation and stretching programs that support prenatal education and maternal emotional well-being were provided to increase participant satisfaction.

All programs were provided free of charge and were designed so that pregnant women could learn environmental health practices without burden and integrate them naturally into daily life.

According to a post-training satisfaction survey of participating pregnant women and public health center staff, the training content, lectures, and overall operation of the hands-on programs received high marks. The Center plans to refine the training content based on the survey results and to implement more systematic and effective tailored environmental health education next year.

Kim Yong-hyun, Director of the Jeonbuk Provincial Environmental Health Center, said, “As pregnant women are a health-vulnerable group sensitive to environmental hazards, it is important to provide accurate environmental health information and support practical implementation in daily life. We will continue to strengthen cooperation with local public health centers, expand lifecycle-based tailored environmental health education, and contribute to creating a healthy living environment for residents.”

Meanwhile, the Jeonbuk Provincial Environmental Health Center is implementing various projects to promote an environmental health culture, including lifecycle-based education and hands-on programs, to protect the health of sensitive populations vulnerable to environmental hazards and to raise environmental health awareness. The Center plans to broaden cooperation with city and county public health centers in the province and to expand related training going forward.