Archive for the ‘UK’ Category

It is with regret the Trustees have accepted the resignation of Jonathan Riley due to the pressure of outside commitments. The Trustees would like to thank Jonathan for his contribution to the Trust. Although he has not been a Trustee for very long he will be sorely missed. Dr William Grut will take over as Chairman.

Shiatsu groups have raised over £1,000 for AMDA Japan. Thank you for all your hard work.
City of Bristol Group Raised £335 + gift aid
South London group raised £825, and
North London Group has raised at least £200

(2011-05-06)

Overview:

Mar. 11: In response to the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that struck the northeast of Japan, AMDA decided to dispatch its first emergency relief team.

Mar. 12: AMDA team left for severely hit Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture and started to deliver medical assistance.

Mar. 15: While part of the team remained in Miyagi, the rest relocated to Kamaishi City and Ohtsuchicho in Iwate Pref. and initiated relief work.

Mar. 19: In response to the request from the worst hit Minamisanriki-cho (Miyagi), AMDA dispatched its relief team to provide medical relief.

Mar. 21: The work in Sendai (Miyagi) was completed (transferred to a local body.)

Mar. 31: The work in Kamaishi (Iwate) was completed (transferred to a local doctors¡Ç association.)

Apr. 20: The work in Minamisanriku-cho (Miyagi) and Ohtsuchicho (Iwate) were completed. While the activities were handed over to local bodies, services such as acupuncture therapy and health assistance have been continued.

Total number of AMDA’s relief personnel (as of Apr. 26th): 148

51 doctors, 33 nurses, 4 midwives, 2 assistant nurses, 3 pharmacists, 2 psychotherapists, 49 coordinators, 2 careworkers, 2 acupuncture therapists

Besides direct medical assistance, AMDA responded to various local needs such as setting up a playroom for children in the evacuation shelters, holding recreational events and nutrition programs as well as providing meals.

In line with the dispatch of medical teams, AMDA sent aid supplies using the hearty funds from its donors all around the world. The relief goods were prepared in response to the request from the local teams and were delivered seven times in total using a chartered-truck. Commercial delivery services were also used after they resumed their regular operations in the devastated regions. The goods included medical supplies, medical devices (electrocardiogram and ultrasound machines), food supplies (rice, vegetables), daily life goods, bicycles, stationery and appliances (washing machines, computers, batter chargers etc.)

The daily operations at the activity sites:

While AMDA teams were stationed at evacuation centers, the teams delivered mobile clinic services to homes and smaller (remote) evacuation shelters in the respective regions. There were far more numbers of patients with stress- related ailments and chronic diseases than those that needed surgical treatments.

Due to the stagnant recovery of lifelines, sanitary conditions got worsened which later developed into the outbreak of norovirus. However, various counter measures such as isolation of infected individuals, thorough sanitization efforts and awareness promotion have succeeded in halting the spread of the disease.

In addition, AMDA sent psychiatrists to help the evacuees that were fatigued both physically and mentally from prolonged evacuation life, and extended a helping hand to those who had been suffering from mental illnesses.

Besides incorporating acupuncture therapy in its services, AMDA also distributed life goods upon mobile clinic services.

In securing the privacy among evacuees in the shelters, AMDA provided partitions for each household, and also sent a medical trailer equipped with individual compartments.

Further scope of assistance:

In line with the recovery of local healthcare systems, AMDA will extend its assistance in the rehabilitation phase. In addition to ongoing acupuncture treatments and health support measures, AMDA will contribute to the rebuilding of local hospitals/medical institutions and provide medical personnel if needed.

AMDA has also set up a three-year scholarship program, starting this year, to back up high school students in the regions (Kamaishi High School, Ohtsuchi High School, Shizugawa High School) who wish to work in the medical field in the future.

Furthermore, a plan is underway for this summer to hold a sport-exchange event, inviting junior high school students from disaster areas to Okayama (home to AMDA). The event hopes to promote mutual understanding and friendship between students from Okayama and those from disaster areas who persevered the hardship.

(2011-04-14)

After one month has passed since the catastrophic earthquake and tsunami that hit north-east Japan, people in the afflicted regions participated in a silent prayer on Apr. 11th. Even now, innumerable aftershocks are shaking the country which is causing the delay in the recovery of infrastructures and giving people high level of stress. Meanwhile, schools and hospitals are gradually getting back to normal with people making efforts towards it.

Iwate Prefecture (the town of Ohtsuchicho):

In order to uplift children’s mood, toys and stuffed animals of a popular Japanese cartoon character was donated in response to the call for help from AMDA’s pediatrician. The “Anpanman Program”, named after the character, was initiated in line with the ongoing mobile clinic services which provides recreation time for children besides medical treatments. While a number of stressed-related ailments are seen among patients, the program aims to take care of children’s mental health and put them at ease.

Other than the above, many patients complain of troubles with their eyes as they are exposed to the powder dust from the rubble. A nutritional program has also been implemented to improve the unbalanced diet of the evacuees and plans are underway to provide vitamin supplements as well.

Miyagi Pref. (the town of Minamisanriku-cho):

While mobile clinic services were delivered to Omori district in Minamisanriku-cho, the local Shizugawa Hospital has taken over the temporary prefabricated clinics from the Israeli medical team. The hospital has put its hands on resuming their regular operations and is expected to be normalized gradually.

Norovirus is still prevalent in Minamisanriku-cho, however, the preventive/hygiene measures implemented by AMDA have been effective in controlling the outbreak. From now on, hygiene awareness will be very important due to the arrival of a warmer season. There are 5 norovirus patients out of 360 evacuees at Shizugawa Elementary School.

After receiving the above report, AMDA sent relief goods such as vitamin supplements, dust-proof goggles and paper towels to both Iwate and Miyagi.

Latest dispatch of AMDA personnel:

23rd group: 1 acupuncture therapist, 1 nurse (Apr. 11th)

24th group: 2 doctors (including AMDA President) (Apr. 12th)

Total number of AMDA¡Çs relief personnel (as of Apr. 12th): 131

48 doctors, 27 nurses, 3 midwives, 2 assistant nurses, 3 pharmacists, 2 psychotherapists, 43 coordinators (including interpreters), 2 careworkers, 1 acupuncture therapist

(2011-04-11)

On Apr. 10th a number of volunteers gathered at a local temple in Okayama (home to AMDA) to sort out gifts to be sent to the disaster victims in Ohstuchicho and Kamaishi City in Iwate Pref. 1,500 sets of gifts (originally donated by high school students from Hiroshima) will be sent to the afflicted sites on Apr. 11th.

Iwate Prefecture (the town of Ohtsuchicho):

The recovery of electricity had brought back town lights and re-operated traffic lights, however, the power went out again after the earthquake which occurred on Apr. 7th. Many people in the area became very downhearted about this as having electricity restored had been a very significant point int the recovery process.

Besides the ongoing medical services, AMDA set a playroom for children and also held a little sport event and a movie-viewing to lighten the stress of the evacuees.

Now that 10 % of the elderly are becoming bedridden, the need for nursing is increasing. AMDA is offering blood tests and other medical check in its mobile medical trailer.

Miyagi Pref. (the town of Minamisanriku-cho):

On Apr. 8th a renowned Japanese singer, Takeshi Kitayama, visited Shizugawa Elementary School in response to AMDA’s call for help to ease the suffering of the victims.

After his hearty a cappela performance that arose a touching moment, Kitayama went around the evacuees and gave them warm words of encouragement to show his care.

Minamisanriku-cho still faces the lack of lifelines including water, electricity and gas (as well as gasoline,) however, sign of recovery is yet to be seen. Meanwhile, AMDA will continue to battle the spread of norovirus by sending additional medical personnel and relief supplies.

Latest dispatch of AMDA personnel:

21st group: 2 nurses (Apr. 9th)

22nd group: 2 doctors, 1 nurse, 1 coordinator (Apr. 10th)

Total number of AMDA’s relief personnel (as of Apr. 10th): 128

46 doctors, 26 nurses, 3 midwives, 2 assistant nurses, 3 pharmacists, 2 psychotherapists, 43 coordinators (including interpreters), 2 careworkers, 1 singer

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