Yukari Igarashi St. Luke’s College of Nursing E-mail : yukari@slcn.ac.jp

1. Yukari IgarashiSt. Luke’s College of Nursing E-mail : yukari@slcn.ac.jp http://plaza.umin.ac.jp/artemis/staff/igarashi.html PURPOSE Survey actions needed for women’s protection in the stricken disaster area. METHOD Field survey began 1st of April, 2011 . We investigated over 25 shelters, interviewed women, and attended healthcare coordination meetings to survey needs. Shelters Toilets Temporary housings Health consultation Giving women’s health information RESULT Problems identified were: 1) difficulty maintain proper hygiene, 2) lack of information about menstruation, menopause and incontinence, 3) relief supplies did not match women’s needs and 4) sexual violence. We made some informational pamphlets and a woman’s supply kit calledONNA-NO-NATTEMO- FUKURO(a kit for women’s needs). This name was from the local dialect of Iwate the geographical stricken area. It is included: disposable bidet, sanitary napkins, toilet lotion, lip cream, and cosmetic parch . There were also pamphlets, a card for free phone consultation and a whistle for women’s protection in the bag. We met women from about90 shelters and temporary housing districts. We delivered about 6,700 bagsfor women and 300 bags for school children. We also gave women’s health information and provided health consultations. Women became aware they needed to protect themselves, and also that the goods were a public favor. In particular, teaching them how to keep their external genitalia clean and exercises for stopping incontinence attracted women, because no one had focused on these topics. We constituted an outreach action for 14 months; thereafter salons continue our actions. Exercises for stopping incontinence Women’s supply kits (called ONNA-NO-NATTEMO- FUKURO) How to use a bidet Need survey and action plan for women’s protection: 2011 earthquake stricken area, Rikuzentakata-shiJapan For school children CONCLUSION Women were not a high priority to receive support after the disaster, however they are vulnerable. We recommend that agencies and others focus on women and provide sensitive supportive action. Acknowledgment :This project is collaborated with Japan Association for Refugee (JAR). http://www.refugee.or.jp/en This project is funded by Japan platform (JPF). http://www.japanplatform.org/E/index.html