Today we have a report from the HuMA team working in Suzu City. In the morning, the HuMA team attends the Health and Medical Welfare Coordination Headquarters meeting and shares information with public health nurses. At the evacuation centers HuMA team is in charge of, we work with various support teams to improve the environment, provide medical examinations, and provide traveling medical services.
The traveling DVT teams came with portable echoes to the shelters served by HuMA. Two of these teams, along with the HuMA team, went to the shelters and private homes to perform venous echoes of the lower extremities. One person in the shelter was found to have venous thrombosis, but due to the tendency of the disease to be chronic and the need for medical prescription and follow-up, the patient was referred to a general hospital. In addition, a follow-up visit was made again to a patient whose dentures had recently been adjusted by a dentist, and oral observations were made. There was an ulcer on the lower left side of the patient’s mouth, which was considered to require further follow-up by the dentist. The accompanying DVT team also performed a lower extremity echo, which showed no clots, which was a relief.
In many evacuation centers, elderly people use partial or full dentures. Therefore, the HuMA dental hygiene team distributed toothbrushes and denture cases and explained how to use them. Also today, the Japan Medical Association Disaster Medical Team held a training session at the evacuation center; HuMA assisted in guiding the team and handed out donated hand towels to participants as part of infection control measures.
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| HuMA dental hygienist team distributing toothbrushes and other items and explaining how to use them | Distributing hand towels at JMAT training sessions |