Record 1,242 A-bomb victims hospitalized
in FY 1999
NAGASAKI, Aug. 4 Kyodo - A record 1,242 atomic
bomb victims were hospitalized at the Japanese
Red Cross Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Hospital in
fiscal 1999, an increase of 12 from fiscal
1998, hospital officials said Friday.
The hospital's annual report on treatment
for A-bomb victims showed that among those
hospitalized during the year up to March
2000, 364 people or 29.3% were admitted for
cancer and 157 or 12.6% for brain and heart
disorders.
A total of 75 people were hospitalized for
endocrine-related disorders such as diabetes,
an increase of 6% from the previous fiscal
year, while 5,606 new A-bomb outpatients
were recorded in fiscal 1999, down 646 from
6,252 marked in fiscal 1998.
The number of outpatients has continued to
decrease since fiscal 1987. Kakaru Matsuo,
vice director of the hospital, said the decrease
was partly due to the fact that the victims
are getting older and finding it more difficult
to go to the hospital.
The hospital in the southwestern Japanese
city began compiling data in 1958.
As for the Health and Welfare Ministry's
recent official recognition of a 58-year-old
female victim of the 1945 Nagasaki atomic
bombing, Atsushi Taguchi, director of the
hospital, said he believes more certificates
allowing A-bomb victims to receive special
medical allowances will be issued in the
future.
''I want the Health and Welfare Ministry
to disclose information on acceptance or
rejection of applications filed by A-bomb
victims for official recognition,'' Taguchi
said.
Hideko Matsuya received a certificate for
A-bomb victims dated July 31, following a
ruling by the Supreme Court on July 18 upholding
a lower court order for the state to officially
recognize her as a victim.
==Kyodo
