[TOKYO, Japan, 20 April 2011]
On 19 April the Japan Committee for UNICEF (JCU) began assistance to restart medical checkups for infants in Rikuzentakata City, Iwate Prefecture, marking the first medical checkups for infants since the earthquake.
Despite heavy rain from the morning, mothers and their babies began to gather at the public hall used for the checkups before the planned starting time. Checkups were provided for infants between the ages of four months and ten months. The infants’ growth was surveyed by taking height, weight, head position and chest measurements, checking their reflexes and confirming that the hip joints had not suffered dislocation. Thereafter mothers were provided with child-rearing advice.
Mariko Matsuno, who was the first person in line for a checkup, held her five-month old daughter Yui to her chest and said, “Usually, I would go to the doctor’s office, but I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to receive a prompt checkup due to the current circumstances.” When Dr. Tomoharu Oki said, “She is showing very healthy growth,” Ms. Matsuno gave a big sigh of relief.
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF | © Japan Committee for UNICEF | |
| Mariko Matsuno and daughter Yui (five months old). | Accompanied by his sister and mother, Shuzo Wada receives a checkup |
Shuzo Wada (4 months old) was brought to the venue by his mother Hiromi and sister Hinata (10 years old). The mother says that she has been worried since the earthquake because with no electricity to provide light she had been unable to check the expressions on Shuzo’s face at night. She was also worried because Shuzo continued to cry during the nights, but Shuzo relaxed and was able to sleep again once the power came back on. Hinata, Shuzo’s bigger sister, picked Shuzo up after the checkup was finished and gave a big smile. Hinata, too, was apparently worried about her little brother. Hiromi smiled and said, “I am so relieved to have a doctor I know look at my baby.”
Yushin Sekito (4 months old) was brought by her mother Tomoko and grandmother Chiyoko. After the disaster, Tomoko’s house, which was located in Hiroda Town, Rikuzentakata City, was nothing but an empty building surrounded by water , forcing the family to move in with the grandmother Chiyoko. Tomoko has been unable to produce breast milk since the earthquake and had been preparing powdered milk for Yushin sometimes even by candlelight, but she says that she was worried about running out. Gazing at Yushin’s face, Tomoko said, “I feel much more relieved after this checkup.”
In the waiting room mothers from the local community were nearly in tears as they held their babies and checked to make sure everyone else was okay.
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF |
Dr. Oki kindly told a mother, “Just contact me if you are concerned about anything at all. Don’t hold your worries in.” Dr. Oki is the only pediatrician in Rikuzentakata City. The only other pediatrician and five of the seven health nurses from Rikuzentakata City were killed in the disaster.
There has always been a lack of doctors in the Tohoku region; the figure is said to be half of the national average. Amidst these circumstances infant checkups are anything but easy. Nevertheless, Dr. Oki says, “Infant health checkups are vital for returning normality to everyone’s lives. I wanted to bring comfort to the lives of mothers as quickly as possible.”
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| © Japan Committee for UNICEF |
After the disaster medical aid organizations from around Japan gathered in Iwate Prefecture. Most of those organizations provided ambulatory clinic services, but infant health was an area left totally uncovered. Health services such as checkups and vaccinations protect infants from illness and are tremendously important for ensuring healthy growth. Dr. Oki commented that, “I am relieved to be able to restart checkups. The next step is vaccinations scheduled for mid-next month.”
In preparation for implementing these infant checkups JCU collaborated with the Health Promotion Section, Civic Life Division of the Rikuzentakata City Government. JCU provided assistance in procuring all of the tools needed for checkups, including scales for height and weight, examination tables and tape measures. Dr. Tadashi Yasuda of JCU, who has been continuing assistance in Iwate Prefecture, said, “I want to create an environment that mothers and babies feel comfortable returning to. To do that maternal and child health services are essential, and today’s checkups were the first step.”
| Receiving Prefecture |
Type of Emergency Supplies |
Arrival Date |
Quantity | Donating Company |
Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miyagi | Water | 19 Mar. | 12,288 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Fukushima | Water | 22 Mar. | 12,672 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Underwear for boys and girls | 22 Mar. | 200,000 | ||
| Iwate | Underwear for boys and girls | 23 Mar. | 30,000 | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 23 Mar. | 4,680 bottles |
KIRIN MC DANONE WATERS Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Children’s shoes | 23 Mar. | 10,000 pairs |
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| Miyagi | RChildren’s diapers | 24 Mar. | 80 packs | P&G Japan | |
| Iwate | Children’s underwear | 24 Mar. | 9,700 | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 24 Mar. | 12,288 bottles |
VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Iwate | Shoes | 26 Mar | 1,404 pairs | Achilles Corporation | |
| Iwate | Underwear for boys and girls | 27 Mar. | 28,266 | ||
| Iwate | Boots | 27 Mar. | 7,462 pairs | ||
| Iwate | Wipes | 28 Mar. | 1,200 | P&G Japan | For babies |
| Miyagi | Recreation kits Early Childhood Development kits |
2 Apr. | 50 of each | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Iwate | Recreation kits Early Childhood Development kits |
2 Apr. | 50 of each | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Miyagi | Book bags | 6 Apr. | 70 | Nihon New Bag Chain | |
| Iwate | Book bags | 6 Apr. | 340 | Seiban | |
| Miyagi | Schoolbags | 8 Apr. | 18,000 | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Iwate | Schoolbags | 8 Apr. | 18,000 | Procured from the UNICEF Supply Division | |
| Miyagi | Personal security buzzers (for crime prevention purposes) | 8 Apr. | 5,000 | ||
| Iwate | Personal security buzzers (for crime prevention purposes) | 8 Apr. | 5,000 | ||
| Fukushima | Water | 11 Apr. | 1,536 bottles | VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Replenishments for recreation kits | 12 Apr. | 60 sets | ||
| Miyagi | Miniature toy cars | 12 Apr. | Approx. 1,200 | TAKARA TOMY | |
| Sagamihara* | Water | 12 Apr. | 12,288 bottles | VanaH Co., Ltd. | Two-liter plastic bottles |
| Miyagi | Play mats | 13 Apr. | Two types; 80 of each type | IKEA | |
| Miyagi | Drawing sets | 13 Apr. | 60 sets | IKEA | |
| Iwate | Chairs (for 3-5 year olds) | 14 Apr. | 75 | ||
| Iwate | Tables (for 6 people) | 14 Apr. | 11 | ||
| Iwate | Low tables | 14 Apr. | 9 |
*Areas receiving disaster victims.
*In certain cases some supplies may be taken from prefectural supply storage warehouses and distributed to shelters and disaster sites in other prefectures.
As of 9:00 a.m. on 15 April 2011 (compiled by the Information and Public Affairs Division).