As of 31 July 2018, AMDA has been persistently working in three locations, namely, Sunwork Soja (Soja City), Mabi Community House Sono Branch (Mabicho) and Okada Elementary School (Mabicho).
Activity report (30 July 2018):
-Health-related assistance and acupuncture treatment in Sunwork Soja (Soja City):
One nurse and one coordinator from AMDA have been engaged in medical and health-related assistance in Sunwork Soja. The team has been working with local health workers to support those who have been evacuated at the shelter. Since the typhoon did not cause any damage, the life of the evacuees had gotten back to somewhat normal and became calm. Some went to work as usual while some went out for the daily clearing work which left a few people to remain in the shelter during the day time. To keep them company with others, AMDA personnel made it a point to communicate with them as much as possible by taking them out for a walk or having a chat with them. In addition to observing their current situation and further development, the team rendered intimate support by corresponding with their family members or relatives outside the region, or assisted them with obtaining the nursing-care certification which enables them to receive special benefits.
In the morning, four people came to receive the acupuncture treatment. For those who were worried about acupuncture, AMDA’s therapists gave them a massage instead. “It removed my pain”; “I was glad that I received the treatment. Thanks for your kind offering”; “I have been able to sleep well since the last treatment,” they said.
One personnel who took part in AMDA’s relief for the first time said, “Media tend to report numbers, treating the affected population in mass. But one has to understand that each of their circumstances is different. AMDA is doing an amazing job by assessing their needs on the ground and providing coherent assistance.” Entering its fourth week since the onset of the disaster, the environment surrounding each of the evacuees has started to differ from one another. AMDA hopes to respond to their needs flexibly by taking into account such changes and do what it can to maintain their health conditions.
-Nurse’s rounds at Mabi Community House Sono Branch (Mabicho):
Currently, nine people have been evacuated from a nearby nursing home. As all of them are in need of nursing care, an AMDA nurse joined the facility’s care workers to look after the elderly evacuees, especially at night. The AMDA nurse has been helping the elderly on various tasks including their night time toileting. The shelter is facing the shortage of manpower, however, the relationship between the nurse and the evacuees seems to be getting intimate each day after having spent more than a week together. The fact that the same nurse is in charge of this activity is contributing to its success. The AMDA nurse will continue her work in hopes to lightening the burden of the elderly people and the care workers alike.
-Acupuncture at Okada Elementary School (Mabicho):
The acupuncture service was resumed on the 30th after a day of closure due to the arrival of the typhoon over the weekend. All that while, AMDA’s therapists went around the shelter to see if each evacuee was doing okay.
On the 30th, 15 people came to receive the acupuncture treatment. 10 of them visited AMDA’s Care Room for the first time. Most of the complaints were aches in the back, lower-back and shoulders, as well as insomnia, dullness and loss of appetite. Being forced to live under difficult living conditions has been taking a toll on evacuees. As is the case, AMDA is encouraging everyone to use the service freely, especially for those who are exhausted from the privacy-lacking shelter life, or for those who are seeking shelter in the car or spending their day in the affected homes where there is no air conditioning.
Alongside acupuncture, 18 people received a massage and 12 people came to use the footbath. They had such a relaxing time putting one’s feet in a mint-oil infused footbath while getting a massage done. The chit-chat between the patient and the therapist is something that both of them look forward to, which helps uplift the entire mood.