Japan Press Weekly

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2012 January 11 - 17 [NUCLEAR CRISIS]

Fukushima to subsidize radiation inspection of breast milk

Fukushima Prefecture has decided to cover the costs for breast-feeding mothers to have a radiation inspection of their breast milk.

The Japanese Communist Party was calling on the prefecture to subsidize the inspection amid the growing concern over radiation effects on babies’ health.

The prefectural government plans to provide the full amount of the cost of around 50,000 yen for those who wish to have their breast milk inspected at private institutions.

JCP Fukushima Prefectural Assembly member Miyamoto Shizue has been urging the prefectural office to conduct radiation monitoring of mothers’ breast milk. At an assembly meeting in December, she demanded that the prefecture cover the inspection costs if it cannot conduct the inspection itself. The prefecture promised at that time to consider her proposal.