Hibakusha call on Health Ministry to speed up recognition as A-bomb-caused illness sufferers

Japan Press Weekly

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Hibakusha call on Health Ministry to speed up recognition as A-bomb-caused illness sufferers

More than 100 atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) on January 16 lodged complaints with their local governments about the Health Ministry's extremely slow process of examining their applications for official recognition that they suffer from illnesses caused by atomic bomb radiation exposure in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.

The concerted action demanding the swift recognition of Hibakusha with A-bomb diseases, organized by the Japan Confederation of A & H Bomb Sufferers Organization (Japan Hidankyo), took place with 123 Hibakusha participating: 89 in Hiroshima, 21 in Kanagawa, 8 in Aichi, and 5 in Hyogo prefectures. On January 14, 13 Hibakusha in Kagoshima Prefecture filed a similar complaint with their municipalities.

The same type of action was made last month by 51 Hibakusha in Hyogo, Osaka, and Mie prefectures

Since April 2008, when the Health Ministry expanded the number of cases applicable to the certification of Hibakusha with as A-bomb radiation related illnesses, applicants for the official recognition have rapidly increased. According to the ministry, 7,500 applications are pending, including some that have been left untouched for several years.

Hidankyo is demanding that the Health Ministry further revise its criteria to further expand the criteria for recognition of Hibakusha with A-bomb related illnesses and that it improve the certification system.

The Health Ministry has started examining the recognition criteria as to whether hypothyroidism and hepatic dysfunction should be regarded as diseases that are applicable to the certification.

However, it has not given up fighting against court cases filed by Hibakusha demanding certification of Hibakusha suffering from diseases allegedly caused by A-bomb radiation exposure even after losing 12 consecutive lawsuits. More than 50 Hibalusha have been left without official recognition even after winning victory in their lawsuits.

- Akahata, January 17, 2009