Medical Service for Refugees and Asylum seekers

My presentation was about "Medical Service for Refugees and Asylum seekers". I focused on "what the issue of medical service for refugees is". So in introduction, I talked about AGDM (Age Gender Diversity Mainstreaming)-joint survey's result. CTIC, UNHCR, JAR and other organizations participated in this survey. There are mainly two issues, "Refugees and asylum seekers can't pay high-medical cost." and "it is difficult for them to communicate with doctor and nurse." Explaining these issues' solution, I gave my presentation to Miyuki and Ayano.

First, I talked about support of medical expenses. I introduced JAR's support and RHQ's support. Using these services, refugees and asylum seekers can have money to go to hospital. Maybe Miyuki and Ayano could understand how these services are good.

Second, I talked about support of communication. I introduced RHQ's giving "Glossary of Medical Terms" and JAR's "Pointing medical card". I think that it is very for refugees and asylum seekers important to be able to communicate with doctor and nurse. And I think if they can communicate with Japanese, it become very easy to participate in Japanese society. (In cycle 1's presentation, I learned that.) Miyuki told me, communication using pointing card is very useful to understand what he says. She told us her field work. She communicated with one of Turk and used that card. So I think JAR's activity is very helpful for refugees.

Finally, I talked about my experience of field work. I told Miyuki and Ayano CTIC's medical service, learning the worst issue about refugees in Japan (concentration camp) and meeting and communication with Barry Amadoua, one of refugees in Japan and volunteering. I explained my feeling about refugees. I had thought refugees are weak and poor. However, through field work, images of them is changed. I think they are steady and looks good, not poor. Ayano said "I had also thought refugees are poor. However I could change my image of them."

In conclusion, I talked my opinions. To solve issues of medical service, JAR, RHQ and other organizations support them and give us many opportunities to know their life. I think it is very important for us to know and learn about refugees and asylum seekers. I want to do volunteer work to help them.

≪Resources≫

https://www.refugee.or.jp/for_refugees/info/medical_en.shtml JAR's support of medical expenses

http://www.himawari.metro.tokyo.jp/qq/qq13enmnlt.asp Tokyo Metropolitan Medical Institution HIMAWARI's website

http://refugee.ctic.jp/for-refugees/ CTIC's mediacl support

http://www.rhq.gr.jp/japanese/know/kur/03_20.htm Glossary of medical terms

http://www.rhq.gr.jp/english/pdf/handbook.pdf Handbook for life in Japan (PDF)

https://www.refugee.or.jp/for_refugees/medicalcard/medicalcard_burma_1507.pdf pointing medical card (PDF)

Mr. Arikawa / He is a staff of CTIC

Barry Amadoua / I met him. He is from Guinea.