Radiation Damage should neither be Overly Feared, nor Underestimated

–Min-Iren Sets up Task Force and Visits Affected Communities of Fukushima Prefecture–

In the wake of the nuclear power plant accident in Fukushima, Min-Iren (Japan Federation of Democratic Medical Institutions) convened an urgent meeting of the Task Force on radiation exposure accident in the evening of March 19. The members of the Radiation Exposure Commission of the Task Force met and discussed how to evaluate the effect of radiation on human health and how to promote the support activities for the disaster victims in the foreseeable future.

Among the attendees in the meeting was Dr. Saito Osamu (former member of Min-Iren’s Commission on Radiation Exposure Problems), who was working to help the disaster victims at Watari Hospital in Fukushima. Given the level of radiation measured by the current survey meter (measuring equipment of radiation), Dr. Saito said, “(As it now stands,) It is not likely that any acute symptom of radiation would occur.”
But in the face of the contamination by radiation continuing in the areas surrounding the nuclear power plant, he pointed out that the delayed effects of radiation on the people over the long term, depending on the wave of the future, would remain a possibility. He said, “It is necessary to take such measures as avoiding unnecessary outing, wearing masks outdoors or keeping one’s body out of rain.”
In the meeting, it was confirmed that while keeping close watch on how the things would develop, Min-Iren would firmly continue to provide medical, nursing and life support to the victims of the earthquake and tsunamis, as well as to the evacuees from the areas within 20 kilometers from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Talks with mayor of Minami-Soma City and president of local medical association
On March 27, Min-Iren dispatched a fact-finding mission to Fukushima. The purpose of the mission was to grasp the situation on the ground and give support to the hospitals and clinics affiliated with Fukushima Min-Iren, and to visit Minami-Soma City. Minami-Soma City lay across the areas of 10-kilometer to 30-kilometer radius of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. After the nuclear disaster, its citizens living within the 20-kilometer radius were ordered to evacuate, and those living between 20 and 30-kilometer radius were told to either stay indoors or evacuate on their own accord. Min-Iren’s mission, including Vice-President Konishi Kyoji, Secretary General Nagase Fumio and other members of the Radiation Exposure Commission of the Task Force, visited and talked with the leading members of the Fukushima Min-Iren and its affiliated clinics and hospitals.
Despite their own difficulties caused by the disasters, the staffs of these hospitals and clinics dedicated themselves to maintaining medical and life-support activities for the local people, with the material support from national Min-Iren and Health and Welfare Co-op Federation, and the physical support from their former co-workers. Watari Hospital accepted 30 dialysis patients from Omachi Hospital in Minami-Soma City.
Secretary General Nagase and Mr. Matsumoto Jun, President of Fukushima Min-Iren visited Minami-Soma City Hall, handed in the donation and met Mayor Sakurai Katsunobu. Mayor Sakurai explained how the city became isolated after the nuclear disaster, saying, “Due to the ambiguous policy of the government and the spread of harmful rumors, 50,000 out of 70,000 citizens have left our city. In fear of the effect of nuclear power plant accident, transport of goods and even postal matters into the city has been stopped.” The mayor asked Min-Iren, “Please give your hands-on support to protect the lives and livelihoods of the remaining citizens.” Min-Iren delegation also met President Takahashi Kyohei of Medical Association of Minami-Soma. After initial evacuation, Dr. Takahashi returned the city and reopened his own maternity clinic. “I cannot abandon the people,” he said. He and Min-Iren delegation agreed to work together in giving medical support to the citizens.

We need to change Japan’s current energy policy relying heavily on nuclear power
“Until now, for us Japanese, radiation damage has meant Hiroshima, Nagasaki A-bombing and Bikini H-bomb test,” Secretary General Nagase said. “However, given the ongoing crisis at Fukushima nuclear power plant, we are now faced with the effects of radiation as the real and serious problem involving the entire nation. The ‘safety myth’ of nuclear power has now completely collapsed. Now is the time to break away from the dependence on nuclear energy and achieve a drastic change in the energy policy. We need to launch a movement to abolish all nuclear power plants.”
In the videos on Min-Iren’s website (https://www.min-iren.gr.jp/index.html), Dr. Saito Osamu and Dr. Kikima Hajime of Coop Kitahama Clinic in Shizuoka (former head of Min-Iren Commission on Radiation Exposure Problems), discuss and explain the damage from radiation.