Role of Pharmacists in Japan Tsunami

Role of Pharmacists in Japan Tsunami

Introduction

Japan was hit by a devastating Earth quack of magnitude 9.0 followed by a powerful Tsunami on March 11, 2011. 12 million people were affected across Japan. According to the data of Red Cross, 19000 people lost their lives as a result of this Tsunami. Buildings, streets, houses and Roads were hardly damaged. It was the most powerful earth quake that ever hit Japan and left behind vast destruction and horrifying experience (www.redcross.org). A nuclear crisis from “Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant” erupted due to the waves of Tsunami which hit the plant and resulted in the hazardous consequences accounting dangerous effects of nuclear radiations in Japan. Japan lost a significant number of citizen and property. The economic loss of this single disaster was equal to four times of that of Hurricane Katrina and was almost equal to the GDP of Greece (Nanto et al, 2011).

The crises that Japan were experiencing needed immediate response from Health and social care. The emergency and Risk management teams from all around the world join Japan in this tragedy to cope up with the crises and manage the loss. Japan itself did a lot of effective efforts to control the damage. All sectors of Japan from Defence to Public administration and health tried to manage the situation to the best of their capabilities. Pharmacists are an integral part of health care team who offer you variety of services and facilities in case of any urgency. Their critical role of pharmacists in emergency care is becoming very important according to the needs and demands of the Present era. In case of natural or man made disaster which results in wide spread destruction, Pharmacists can play a pivotal role in community health and public health management (Pincock et al, 2011).

Discussion

After the intense earthquake and Tsunami which was followed by the unfortunate event of Fukushima power plant incident, it was a challenge for the Japanese authorities to control the level of damage. Japan was hit terribly by the Physical and capital loss and great economic depression suddenly. The catastrophe was gigantic, so the response needed should be proper and prompt. Japan managed the crises in a very accurate way to minimize the extent of damage. The medical relief teams of Japan in collaboration with Red Cross, Municipalities, National University Hospital and Health care teams from all around the world started the management operations on an emergency basis. Pharmaceutical professionals played a prominent role as part of health care teams in affected areas. For the first time in any disaster operation, Pharmacists were marked and involved in Health care teams officially by the Ministry of Health and Labor in Japan. Pharmacists served as volunteers on an individual basis or as employees dispatched by their organizations as part of health care teams. The Japanese Society of Hospital Pharmacists recruited Pharmacists and allocated them in the disaster management team. They made concrete efforts to develop a systemic approach for short term and ...