From the Japanese Medical Society of America
www.jmsa.org
Japan Society earmarks a 3-year grant to the Japanese Medical Society of America to support “Kokoro no Care” programs in Fukushima
This Obon marks five months from 3/11 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. As of 8/11, 20,433 people are reported dead or missing and more than 90,000 people are still displaced from home. In this time of sorrow and remembrance, Japan Society has given us at JMSA a hope and an opportunity of a lifetime to profoundly impact one of the medically underserved areas of East Japan.
Even prior to 3/11, Soma city with a population of 38,000 did not have a mental health clinic or hospitals with psychiatry unit. Patients were commuting to Minami Soma for their care, but since 3/11, a large part of Minami Soma fell in the 30km evacuation zone from the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
People are faced with particularly high stress level around Fukushima prefecture where they are faced not only with the aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami, but with the fear and harmful rumors of radiation. Ironically, almost all mental health care facilities in Minami Soma, including four hospitals with psychiatry unit as well as several outpatient clinics had to be closed down since 3/11. This mounts to 840 psychiatric inpatient beds.
Faced with dire needs and the lack of mental health care for Soma and Minami Soma, Dr. Shinichi Niwa and his “Kokoro no Care” team at Fukushima Medical University began their plan to build a new mental health care system in the area. After thorough research and visits to several local medical facilities, JMSA identified this program as a meaningful, long-term project that would significantly impact areas affected by the earthquake, Tsunami, and radiation. JMSA has raised relief fund and sent $150,000 to help start this program. We are indebted with invaluable support from Mr. Eisaku Sato and Rotary Club.
We believe this program with core networking groups including Columbia University, Fukushima Medical University, JAMSnet Tokyo, JAMSnet NY, Japan Society, Mount Sinai Global Health, Noveida, and Rotary Club truly represent an unique collaboration from New York to collectively support the local effort in Fukushima by covering various operation aspects.