東日本大震災後の対応―日本リハビリテーション医学会として

Faced with the Great East Japan Earthquake and Disaster : Actions taken by the Japanese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine (JARM)

はじめに

　2011年3月11日に発生した未曽有の大地震と津波により，尊い命を失われた方々に謹んで哀悼の意を表しますとともに，今なお，大きな不安を抱えながら，厳しく，不自由な生活を強いられている被災者の皆様に心よりお見舞い申し上げます．

　東日本大震災の発生以降，日本リハビリテーション医学会は，リハビリテーション（以下，リハ）医学・医療の専門家集団として，被災地域の学会員を支援しながら，関係団体，行政等との密な連携のもとに，被災者の支援，特に災害弱者である高齢者，障害児・者のリハ医療支援，生活支援，廃用症候群・二次障害の予防に向けて取り組んできた．以下，その概要を報告する．

Abstract : The 9.0-magnitude under sea megathrust earthquake and the subsequent extremely destructive tsunami waves on March 11 2011 brought an extensive and severe disaster to the Tohoku and Kanto areas. This natural disaster has been markedly complicated by a series of nuclear power plant failures, leading to radioactive contamination, power shortages and ungrounded rumors. Faced with this most difficult crisis, the JARM set up an earthquake disaster headquarters, and has so far taken the following actions, with an emphasis on supporting its members in the disaster stricken areas, preventing immobilization syndromes and providing necessary rehabilitation services for the frail elderly and persons with disabilities, in collaboration with other specialists organizations, local and central governments : 1） Activities in the disaster zone including support of the physiatrists there, dispatch of JARM members, medical caravans for isolated home-dwelling persons with disabilities, and relief activities as a part of multidisciplinary specialists teams ; 2） Organizing a nation-wide system for transferring persons needing rehabilitation and care services ; 3） Activities in the non-disaster areas for victims relocated from the disaster zone ; 4） Information support services to collect and provide useful information ; 5） Proposals to the government for enlightenment of the importance of rehabilitation disaster relief and for relaxation of regulations for eligibility for rehabilitation and care services. The scope of the disaster is too extensive, both in magnitude and geographical area, and too complex. The situation on the ground and the needs of affected persons are constantly changing. Therefore, well-coordinated, creative, and long-term efforts will be needed, and the JARM is determined to be actively involved in the reconstruction process.