What Can We Do for Tohoku: Tohoku-related Projects
Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) and IMPACT Foundation Japan, two NGOs both holding Kiyoshi Kurokawa as a chair have cooperated to work for Project HOPE’s “Operation Rising Sun”.
Project HOPE, a U.S. -based global health education and humanitarian assistance organization has come right after the Tohoku big earth quake to seek ways to offer wide range of medical related relief assistance named as “Operation Rising Sun”.
From early May, number of teams of Project HOPE, consisted of volunteer specialized physicians, nurses and other health professionals, have provided various medical cares in the affected area. On May 31st, Iwate Prefecture and Project HOPE signed for their long term medical service assistance for redevelopment.
HGPI and IMPACT Japan have coordinated with the Japanese government and local prefectural governments as well as various medical related associations to make this operation happen.
About Project HOPE
Founded in 1958, Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is dedicated to providing lasting solutions to health problems with the mission of helping people to help themselves. Identifiable to many by the SS HOPE, the world’s first peacetime hospital ship, Project HOPE now provides medical training and health education, as well as conducts humanitarian assistance programs in more than 35 countries.
Over the past five decades, Project HOPE has demonstrated its ability to develop and permanently institute long-term solutions to pressing health problems, the true essence of helping people help themselves.
Project HOPE remains as committed as ever to addressing the world’s new health threats by playing a leadership role forging new alliances among those on the frontlines of health and together seek new solutions.
Get to know more about Project HOPE’s Project in Tohoku
Latest Entries
2011/06/06 | By IMPACT Japan
(…Continued from [Report] Project HOPE: 1/2)
On June 1st, Mr. Gerber of Project HOPE, his wife Carrie and I went down to Ishinomaki through coast line via Otsuchi, Rikuzen Takata, Kesennuma to meet with Project HOPE volunteers. This was my first visit to disaster areas, I was stilled for some moments. Mr. Gerber mentioned that it was remarkable that most of core roads were re-opened and paved neatly within this short period. Rubbles were started to be collected and huge heap of rubbles were generated all over the place.
At Ishinomaki, we were able to meet all the deployed HOPE volunteers there. We first went to Yurakukan, where patient refugees who need directly-observed therapy though not so serious were hosted.
Dr. Watanabe was in charge of this facility and served as a resident under management of a local doctor who came this facility 2 to 3 times a week. He mentioned that Project HOPE volunteers stay two weeks longer than any other Japanese volunteer teams who were deployed (usually 3 – 5 days rotation) thus refugees showed more trust and appreciation to them. Then we went to Ishinomaki Royal Hospital where other HOPE volunteers served. At Short Stay Base there, we met Dr. Ouchi, Nurse Sawyer, Nurse Kawasaki, Nurse Samejima and Nurse Ueda. They all mentioned that this volunteer experience was precious and also showed great interest to participate in the Project HOPE’s international medical relief operation outside of Japan in the future.
As these volunteers mentioned, it would be a great learning for them to understand how to work under different medical system.
Reported by Haruko Nishida, Secretary General IMPACT Foundation Japan
[Report] Project HOPE: 1/2 – MOU Ceremony between Project HOPE and Iwate Prefecture
2011/06/02 | By IMPACT Japan
Long awaiting moment has finally come to us.
On May 31st, there was a ceremony for signing Memorandum Of Understanding between Iwate Prefecture and Project HOPE regarding long term medical service assistance for disaster areas redevelopment.
Health and Global Policy Institute (HGPI) and IMPACT Foundation Japan, two NGOs both holding Kiyoshi Kurokawa as a chair have cooperated to work for Project HOPE’s “Operation Rising Sun”. Project HOPE, a U.S. -based global health education and humanitarian assistance organization has come right after the Tohoku big earth quake to seek ways to offer wide range of medical related relief assistance named as “Operation Rising Sun”. HGPI and IMPACT Japan have coordinated with the Japanese government and local prefectural governments as well as various medical related associations to make this operation happen.
Already from mid May, in support of the Japan Primary Care Association’s Disaster Relief Project, Project HOPE has deployed twelve medical volunteers in Miyagi Prefecture. But this MOU event would be a big mile stone for the Operation Rising Sun.
Mr. Fred Gerber of the Project HOPE in charge of Operation Rising Sun pointed “This MOU would be a first step for long lasting relationship between Iwate and Project HOPE. Project HOPE staffs and volunteers are committed to assisting the Iwate and Japan leadership establish a new medical system strategy.” He also added that in the long run he considered establishing scholarship program for medical related service people in Iwate to study abroad to learn about disaster relief medical operation.
The Governor Tasso mentioned “Since medical service re-establishment is one of the most important aspects of regional redevelopment. Project HOPE’s service offering would be great help for us. Also, this type of international collaboration would bring new future for regional development. I hope that those younger generation who experienced this disaster would someday help relief operation of future disaster areas.”
I hope that this tiny step forward would be a big stream for international collaboration for the social goodness to help one another through mutual understanding and respect. For that end, we should strive for nurturing innovative mindset and doers spirit.
(Continue to [Report] Project HOPE: 2/2 – Down to Ishinomaki from Morioka and HOPE volunteers)
Reported by Haruko Nishida, Secretary General IMPACT Foundation Japan
Pictures from MOU Ceremony at the Iwate Prefecture government office (Mr. Fred Gerber of Project HOPE and Iwate Governor Takuya Tasso)
"県と被災地医療支援で協力" IBC (Iwate Broadcasting) – May 31, 2011
2011/05/20 | By IMPACT Japan
I left for Washington DC on May 9th (Mon), right after the ‘Golden Week’ holidays. Arrived at 2pm on the same date, checked in to the hotel, took a brief rest, and headed to the Carnegie Institution of Science to see Dr Richard Meserve (Ref.1), a long time friend. Dr. Meserve is also one of the key persons of the nuclear power plant policies of the United States, so I came to see him to discuss issues related to the Fukushima nuclear plant. I understand that Mr Fujita (in Japanese), member of the House of Councillors, visited him just recently, too.
After the visit which was for about 40minutes, I went on to CSIS. Here, my purpose was to discuss with them the progress of the project with our HGPI (Ref.1), which I have reported to you earlier, (click here for the video), as well as to discuss how we could collaborate on the “Japan’s Recovery Plan After ‘3.11’” by CSIS announced on April 20th.
After having a discussion for about an hour, I went to the National Academies of Sciences. Here, my focus was to exchange views with experts of the Science Academies on nuclear power/radiation and international relations; Drs Michael Clegg (Foreign Secretary), John Boright (Executive Director, International Affairs), Kevin Crowley (Senior Board Director, Nuclear and Radiation Studies Board), Richard Bissell (Executive Director, Policy and Global Affairs Division) joined. I have been in touch with both Michael Clegg and John Boright for about a decade or so, from the time when the scientists started to be active in presenting policy recommendation for the global age, when I was serving as the vice president and later the president of the Science Council of Japan; and of couｒse in the last two months on Fukushima.
They had understood well about the purpose of my visit, and it helped much in having a very constructive discussion. It is very important, especially at time of crises, that you have such good personal relationship with mutual trust with experts of the world.
I do understand that there are many hurdles, but we must be aware that the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant issue is not only in itself a great issue to the world, but how Japan handles this and all of the other problems that stem from it – such as risk management policies and their deployments, the effects of radiation on health, environment, agricultural or industrial products, or emission of radiology to the ocean – the entire response of Japan as a whole is being watched by the world. When unpredictable crisis issues arise, the way the nation reacts and handles is a test and determines, like it or not, the most fundamental credibility of that nation.
In such circumstance, setting an independent commission consisting of international experts is a crucial, very important political process in securing the credibility of a nation today.
Look, for instance, at the BSE problem in Great Britain that started in the 1980s. It took nearly 20 years for them to regain trust, even after they referred and acted to the independent EU committee and waited for their conclusions.
As the world goes global, international credibility/mutual trusts of nations is becoming increasingly important, and in this context how Japanese government reacts to the nuclear power plant issues, how it keeps the process of treatments/decision makings open, transparent, subjective is evermore crucial. However, I regret to say that the government, companies, media, and the scientific community of Japan failed to recognize this at all. Therefore, it seems to me that they are unable to make any trustworthy, speedy actions or decisions and focusing instead on domestic circumstance, making policies that are too nearsighted. The world at large recognizes somehow not-so-appropriate responses of Japanese leadership, which underlies, in my view, a quick decline of the reputation of Japan and spreading of unfavorable rumors or misinformation that harm the Japanese products and industries.
Next morning from 7am, I had a breakfast with Ambassador Fujisaki, and then spent the rest of the day having discussion with 10 or so of experts of an Aging Society Think Tank. At lunch time I enjoyed a short but nice conversation with Dr John Howe, President of Project Hope, who just arrived at Dulles Airport from Johannesburg, and Drs Darrel Porr and Frederic Gerber (Dr. Gerber also came directly from Johannesburg) who was with us in Japan just last week, thanks to the thoughtful arrangement of HE Fujisaki.
After the lunch, I returned to continue discussion and made my presentation, then at 5pm, just before the closing, left for the Dulles Airport to fly to Zurich via London where I will head for St Gallen.
My visit to Washington DC was only for about 30 hours, tightly packed schedule, but it turned out to be an extraordinarily fulfilling stay. I thank Ambassador Fujisaki and his staff at the Japan Embassy in Washington DC, and many others for their kind and wonderful support.
I hope this trip will be of some help to the current situation of Japan…..
See the original post at Kiyoshi Kurokawa’s Blog (in Japanese)
2011/05/12 | By IMPACT Japan
I have been reporting to you on Project Hope several times in this site.
A new team consisting of 5 members arrived from US in the afternoon of May 6th (Fri), the last day of the consecutive holidays we have in Japan as “Golden Week’. We started the next day with a briefing. George, who had also participated in the relief activities in Iraq with Fred, his predecessor, took initiative at this briefing.
I decided to join in the party in Saturday evening. All guests were Japanese, but two of them were doctors currently working in Missouri and NYC, and 3 (1 of them was male) were nurses at UCLA. They all have medical license of the US. Dr. Shimabukuro, whom have I introduced to you earlier, advised them to participate in our project. Dr. Kaku of PCAT who was with us last time, and a medical student of Todai who just returned from Iwate were present, too. Dr. Hayashi is working in Iwate now. This time, as was the last time, PCAT is supervising and advising the Japanese side.
This new team plans to be in Japan for 2 weeks to visit several areas in the Iwate Prefecture. There activities are truely encouraging.
These activities, as they expand, will support the recovery of the disaster stricken places, people’s health, and eventually the creation of new Japan.
I firmly believe that such activities in an open, international team will eventually, though slowly, change the mind-set of our youths to be a global citizen.
See the original post at Kiyoshi Kurokawa’s Blog (in Japanese)
