Visiting the Great Earthquake Disaster Area | Kikuko Ota (Dean of the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care)

2011.06.03

Rape blossoms, cherry blossoms, daffodils, and many other flowers were swaying beautifully in the wind, just as they do every year. And yet, while this is usually the time when rice paddies are filled with water in preparation for planting, there was no sign that any work had begun. The contrast between the blue sky, the calm sea in the distance, and the land before me, shattered in an instant by the tsunami, took my breath away and left me speechless.

It is painful enough just to see the devastated towns, but there are people based in the affected areas, rushing about day after day, trying to respond to the needs of the moment.

Just two days after the great earthquake, they launched a support network, recruiting professional volunteers such as caregivers and nurses from across the country to dispatch to evacuation centers and facilities, and delivering necessary supplies to various shelters, institutions, and private homes.

Where does the energy for this activity come from? As they drive around delivering people and supplies, they see the ever-changing local situation with their own eyes, listen to the affected people to understand what is needed, and quickly grasp new changes and needs while on the move. Furthermore, they make full use of the connections with people and organizations they have cultivated over the years. Their foundation is broad, not only through connections with friends and colleagues but also because of the strength of their pre-existing nationwide network. Even in these limited circumstances, they operate under the motto of taking swift action, starting with whatever is possible.

Another urgent need throughout the disaster-stricken areas is the presence of people with coordination skills. These are individuals who, amidst a mountain of difficulties where goods, people, information, and lifelines are all lacking, can assess what is happening, determine what must be done, identify available resources, judge priorities, and communicate this to others to mobilize them into action.

What kind of education and environment fosters individuals who possess both this ability to act and these coordination skills? As we consider the human resources required for the coming era, now is the time to leverage the experiments and achievements that SFC has undertaken.

(Date of publication: 2011/06/03)