The events of the last one year in Fukushima Hamadori

Abstract

The coastal area of Fukushima prefecture is usually called "Hamadori", and Iwaki city occupies the southernmost part of Hamadori. Our hospital locates in the seashore of Iwaki city. The Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, which developed a catastrophic accident after the Great East Japan Earthquake, locates in the middle part of Hamadori. On the 11th of March 2011, tsunamis caused by the great earthquake severely damaged our hospital and we were forced to evacuate inpatients to other hospitals for several months. Today the air radiation dose around our hospital is sufficiently low, but the anxiety for the re-attack of tsunami still remains. We are now planning the removal of our hospital to an inland estate. In the vicinity of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, residence is still prohibited because of the grave radioactive contamination. On the other hand, the northern and southern parts of Hamadori are restoring their functions. The population of these areas is increasing gradually, but the number of medical staff is far from satisfactory level. As to neurology, only nine specialists work in Hamadori, so we strongly hope the recruitment of enthusiastic neurologists.