Local doctor in earthquake-hit Kumamoto brings medical care to evacuees

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The chief doctor of a medical clinic in the city of Uki, Kumamoto Prefecture, which was jolted by a major earthquake last month, is offering checkups and health consultations to people staying at evacuation shelters — striving to fulfill his role as a local primary care physician as the community grapples with the disaster.

"I can't leave them on their own. I'm just doing what I can," said Hitoshi Kuwahara, the 61-year-old head of Diamond City Clinic.

Born and raised in the city, Kuwahara has been supporting community health for roughly three decades.

During the July earthquake, Aeon Mall Uki, the commercial complex where the clinic is located, was hit by tremors that registered the highest level of 7 on Japan's seismic intensity scale. A man died at the complex due to the quake.

At Kuwahara's clinic, the ceiling fell in and windows were shattered, forcing him to temporarily close the facility.

Still, after spending two days cleaning up earthquake damage at his home, he started visiting evacuation shelters.

Although the medical equipment he could carry with him was limited, he said he couldn't leave the people in front of him uncared-for.

Many older people at evacuation shelters have difficulty walking or have no means of transportation to go to hospital.

Kuwahara sometimes drives to drug stores in the adjacent town to get medication for such people, delivering it to the evacuation shelters. He also helps them manage their blood pressure, as evacuees tend to experience elevated blood pressure due to the stress of displacement.

A 77-year-old woman staying at an evacuation shelter said, "I was so glad when the doctor came up to me to talk that I nearly cried."

"Everyone has been greatly helped by him," she said. "We feel relieved when we see him."

Since there is no clear timeline for the mall to reopen, Kuwahara has launched a crowdfunding campaign to set up a temporary clinic in a prefabricated building.

The campaign will continue until the end of October, and aims to raise ¥6 million ($38,000). The funds will be used to construct the temporary clinic and to purchase medical equipment and supplies.

Kuwahara said some local residents come to evacuation shelters just to get examined by him.

"I feel responsibility as a primary care physician," he said. "I hope people can return to their normal lives as soon as possible."

Translated by The Japan Times