Japan Press Weekly

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2012 July 25 - 31 [WELFARE]

Akamine discusses with local gov’t issues regarding medical services on remote island

On the need to improve medical services on a remote island, Japanese Communist Party Lower House member Akamine Seiken on July 23 had talks with Kawakami Masao, vice mayor of Yoron Town, located in the southernmost island of Kagoshima Prefecture.

Since there is no maternity hospital on the island, the isolated island of Yoron has to rely on medical facilities in Okinawa Prefecture for the care of about 40 to 50 pregnant women per year.

In November last year, in an emergency situation, a pregnant woman was transported to Kagoshima City because there was no vacancy in Okinawan hospitals. It took 9 hours for the Self-Defense Forces to transport her to the hospital via helicopter.

Expressing concerns over emergency situations occurring during childbirth, Vice Mayor Kawakami said that this issue cannot be addressed solely by the local municipality. He stressed that improvement of the local medical system will be essential to deal with the already low childbirth rate.

In response to Kawakami, Akamine stated that it is a matter to which the national government has to pay attention to and provide support for.