Association of Medical Doctors of ASIA, founded in 1984, Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC since 1995

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AMDA Emergency Response #22 – West Japan Torrential Rain

Publication date:2018-08-01
 
Due to the arrival of Typhoon Jongdari on 29 July, the evacuation order was issued in the morning in Mabicho and Soja City which were both heavily affected by the torrential rain that struck west Japan last month. According to Soja City Government, 628 people sought shelter to be prepared for the storm. AMDA continued its work as usual.

On the 29th, AMDA personnel went around the shelters in Soja City with local nurses to see the evacuees in person and provided a consultation service to whoever that needed it. AMDA has been working in Sunwork Soja (Soja City), Mabi Community House Sono Branch, and Okada Elementary School (both in Mabicho) to carry on with the ongoing activities. Today’s update features an activity report from the 28th and  29th respectively.

Activity report (29 July 2018):

-Mobile medical consultation service (Soja City)

AMDA has been providing a mobile medical consultation service in Soja City. The effort has been made possible thanks to the cooperation of Soja City Government (AMDA’s collaborating partner at the time of disaster relief) as well as Kibi Medical Association. Two AMDA nurses and one coordinator have been visiting several shelters in Soja City (including Showa Community House, Kushiro Community House and Nishi Community House) with local health workers. 12 people came to ask questions about medicine or complained of minor ailments. The team handled each case with appropriate care.

The mobile medical consultation service will be continued as a lot of evacuees are concerned about the typhoon. “I was glad that AMDA came. It was a huge help for me as I was able to lift the weight off my shoulders,” one patient said.
 

-Nurse’s round (Mabicho)

At Mabi Community Center Sono Branch, nine elderly people have been evacuated from a nearby elderly nursing home. As a lot of them needed help with toileting and other relevant tasks, AMDA sent one nurse to assist the staff from the nursing facility. On the 29th, two nurses joined the team to organize light exercises and recreational activities as the evacuees couldn’t go out due to the typhoon. They enjoyed the body-stretching exercise using towels and a game using a ball which allowed them to get active. The staff from the nursing facility said the recreational activities were really helpful.

Activity report (28 July 2018):

-Acupuncture treatment at Okada Elementary School (Mabicho)

On the 28th, 13 people came to receive the acupuncture treatment. Most of the patients were in their 30s and 40s who came to relieve the accumulated physical pain and fatigue from hard labor. As for elderly people, sleep deprivation, insomnia, constipation and frequent urination at night are increasing due to stress stemming from the prolonged evacuation life. The disparities among the evacuees in terms of life reconstruction or the extent of damage have been a source of frustration, which have taken toll on the well-being of the evacuees. The nervousness has caused the body-swell and the number of potential ailments seems to be more than what has been identified.

Some of the evacuees are reserved to receive the treatment at first, but once they come to the clinic, they leave with a smile. This eventually breaks the emotional barriers and makes it easier for them to see the therapists again for the second time. It is for this reason that the communication between relief personnel, therapists and patients is essential besides the actual treatment. The team hopes to provide acupuncture while making small talk with the patients to heal them psychosomatically.

-Footbath in Okada Elementary School (Mabicho):

Two student volunteers from Okayama Prefectural University joined the team of seven relief personnel to provide the footbath service at Okada Elementary School. Although the footbath treatment is deemed to be something secondary, it is actually one of the most direct and effective ways to cure those who are mentally exhausted. The efficacy of treatment is so visible that they start to look relaxed and become talkative as they put their feet in the tub. The treatment is also easy to experience and could become the gateway to acupuncture.

-Health-related assistance and acupuncture treatment (Sunwork Soja)

One health worker and one coordinator from AMDA have been providing health-related assistance in Sunwork Soja where 38 people from 18 households have been staying. The two are closely working with the local health workers to care for those who are still withstanding the difficult time. While many stay inside the shelter during the daytime, a lot of their family members go out to clean their affected homes.

AMDA team has been recommending some of the elderly people to be certified as a nursing-care recipient so that one will be entitled to special medical benefits. AMDA is also looking after those who seem to be mentally unstable, and giving stomach massage to lighten the symptoms of the patients that are suffering from constipation. AMDA is also referring patients to nearby hospitals in serious cases. On the 28th, the team took care of seven patients as a whole. In the morning, one acupuncturist who had been working in Okada Elementary School (Mabicho) was sent in to provide the treatment in Sunwork Soja as well.
 
    •  Emergency Relief
    •  GPSP Medical Mission (Promotion of Health)
    •  Japan
    •  2018
    •  ER & Reconstruction

 
 
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