Iwate Prefecture began dispatching public health nurses to Suzu City immediately after the earthquake, and will continue to provide support as needed.
Five public health nurses visited the Lifelong Learning Center in the city where more than 60 people have taken refuge. They took blood pressure readings and asked people if they had anything wrong with their health.
A 94-year-old woman told the public health nurse that she was sleeping on three mattresses and felt pain in her lower back and ribs. The public health nurse advised her to move her body to relieve her muscles.
When the woman expressed her anxiety about when she would be able to return home, the public health nurse held her hand and offered encouragement.
The woman said, "The environment at the shelter is different from my home, and various parts of my body hurt. But I was glad that the public health nurse cared about me so that I could stay healthy."
A 72-year-old woman said, "I can't sleep and my body doesn't move as much as I would like, but I feel better when they listen to me."