HuMA continues to provide support at the hospital after March in the hope that the Keiju Medical Center staff can alleviate some of their burden.
Dispatched nurses performed a wide variety of tasks in the hospital ward, including checking vital signs, assisting in securing infusion routes, internal medication, and meal assistance. At the geriatric healthcare facility, they also worked with residents on seated exercises and so on. In between care, HuMA nurse found time to talk with the nurses in the hospital.
At the time of the earthquake, lifelines were down and roads were cut off, so hospital staff felt guilty because they could not go to work. Even if they were able to come to work, they regretted that they did not have the time or leisure to attend to the residents and provide adequate nursing care. They also could not clean or bathe at home, and continued to have various feelings.
The hospital staff said that the arrival of outside assistance such as HuMA made all the difference in the physical burden on the hospital staff and that the support was very reassuring. It was a reminder that support during a disaster is not only about assisting victims in evacuation centers and first-aid centers, but also about assisting supporters within the disaster area.
