News

HuMA has divided its team into two teams and is conducting support activities at a relief center in Suzu City and also at a maternity hospital in Nanao City. Today, we would like to report on our activities from the maternity hospital.

Today, we had discharges for a postpartum woman and a newborn. Typically, patients undergoing a cesarean section are discharged on the 7th day post-surgery, but, based on the patient’s preference, discharge occurred on the 6th day this time. Since the patient was going back to Suzu City, we gave her liquid milk and bottled water as a backup, and quickly disinfected her new baby bottle so that it could be used immediately.

While the mother was anxious about being discharged from the hospital, she also expressed relief at being able to see her family again. The midwife in charge of the baby said to the baby, “Everyone’s hope, everyone’s energy,” indicating that the new life that had been born after the earthquake had been a source of emotional support for the ward staff.

Currently, the obstetrics and gynecology ward is closed, and obstetric patients are being handled while borrowing space in the laboratory, which places duties and burdens on the maternity ward staff that do not occur during normal times. Furthermore, due to the absence of nursing assistants on Sundays, there were shortages of linens and other supplies. We addressed this by replenishing them as needed. Other duties included measuring vital signs, cleaning up bathing, making beds, sweeping floors, and escorting patients with restricted bed rest to shopping. We hope to relieve some of the burden on the maternity hospital staff.