February 1, 2010
Assistant Professor Yoshihiro Yamahata of the Department of Primary Care & Emergency Medicine of Kyoto University Hospital, who had been sent to Haiti as a member of the Japan Disaster Relief Team of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), returned to Japan on January 29 and held a debriefing session at the Hospital on February 1 regarding his two-week activities in Haiti.
The debriefing session began with Hospital Director Takashi Nakamura expressing his appreciation for the Assistant Prof. Yamahata's efforts, followed by Nursing Director Kazuko Nin presenting a bouquet of flowers. On his activities in Haiti, Assistant Prof. Yamahata reported, "Comprising 27 staff members, the team went to Léogâne with a population of 100,000. The city is located near the epicenter and approximately 40 km from the capital of Port-au-Prince. Almost 90% of the buildings had been destroyed, forcing residents to live in temporary tents on the streets. Many of the injured had been left untreated, so the team set up a temporary clinic at the site of a nursing school. The team treated a total of 534 patients from January 18 to 25."
Assistant Prof. Yamahata concluded his debriefing session saying, "Japan's medical technologies helped a lot. Since recovery will need long-term support from countries around the world, I hope that everybody maintains a strong interest in Haiti."
 Debriefing session |
 Assistant Prof. Yamahata receiving a bouquet of flowers from Nursing Director Nin |