MHLW gives notice of in utero A-bomb survivor certification if mother undeniably exposed to black rain, confirmed to suffer from among 11 diseases
Oct. 12, 2022
by Masanori Wada and Satoshi Hirata, Staff Writers
On October 11, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) notified relevant local governments of its screening procedures for in utero A-bomb survivors in cases for which the mother has died. The procedures are part of measures to provide relief to people exposed to the so-called “black rain” that contained radioactive materials and fell after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. If the mother’s exposure to black rain cannot be denied and if it can be confirmed that the mother had suffered from one or more of the 11 diseases required for certification, the applicant child of the mother will be granted recognition as being an in utero A-bomb survivor. That facet had not been incorporated into the new guidelines for A-bomb survivor certification introduced earlier this year in April, and with that the screening of such applications had been held up at the level of the Hiroshima Prefectural and City governments.
According to MHLW, if a mother has already died when her child who was in her womb at the time of the atomic bombing applies for an A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate, that child will be recognized as being an A-bomb survivor and issued a certificate if the mother’s exposure to black rain cannot be denied based on such documents as her record of residence from that time, and if it can be proven from a copy of her death certificate or other official documents that she suffered from one or more of 11 specific diseases, including cancer and liver cirrhosis. If such documents are not available, testimonies by physicians or caregivers can also be used.
The ministry also made notification about how an application should be handled if the applicant dies before the screening process is completed. In the past, the application was terminated after an applicant’s death. From now on, however, the process will be continued until a decision is made as to whether or not the applicant can be certified as being an A-bomb survivor. If the applicant is recognized as such, an A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate will be issued and the applicant’s family members will receive health care allowances and funeral expenses based on the date of application.
The new guidelines did not include indications for the screening of in utero A-bomb survivors whose mother, believed to have been exposed to the black rain, had already died, and as a result, the prefectural and city governments have 63 such cases that are waiting to be screened. According to the city government, 16 people have died since April before the results of screening could be provided amid an increase in number of applications based on the new guidelines.
In response to the national government’s notification, a city Relief Division staff member was quoted as saying, “We understand that the scope of relief for victims was expanded. Based on the national government’s notification this time, we will promptly inform applicants of the details of the notification and move ahead with the screening process.” The prefecture’s Atomic Bomb Survivors Support Division made the comment that, “We will work to advance the steps we need to take to issue certificates to as many people as soon as possible.”
(Originally published on October 12, 2022)
On October 11, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) notified relevant local governments of its screening procedures for in utero A-bomb survivors in cases for which the mother has died. The procedures are part of measures to provide relief to people exposed to the so-called “black rain” that contained radioactive materials and fell after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. If the mother’s exposure to black rain cannot be denied and if it can be confirmed that the mother had suffered from one or more of the 11 diseases required for certification, the applicant child of the mother will be granted recognition as being an in utero A-bomb survivor. That facet had not been incorporated into the new guidelines for A-bomb survivor certification introduced earlier this year in April, and with that the screening of such applications had been held up at the level of the Hiroshima Prefectural and City governments.
According to MHLW, if a mother has already died when her child who was in her womb at the time of the atomic bombing applies for an A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate, that child will be recognized as being an A-bomb survivor and issued a certificate if the mother’s exposure to black rain cannot be denied based on such documents as her record of residence from that time, and if it can be proven from a copy of her death certificate or other official documents that she suffered from one or more of 11 specific diseases, including cancer and liver cirrhosis. If such documents are not available, testimonies by physicians or caregivers can also be used.
The ministry also made notification about how an application should be handled if the applicant dies before the screening process is completed. In the past, the application was terminated after an applicant’s death. From now on, however, the process will be continued until a decision is made as to whether or not the applicant can be certified as being an A-bomb survivor. If the applicant is recognized as such, an A-bomb Survivor’s Certificate will be issued and the applicant’s family members will receive health care allowances and funeral expenses based on the date of application.
The new guidelines did not include indications for the screening of in utero A-bomb survivors whose mother, believed to have been exposed to the black rain, had already died, and as a result, the prefectural and city governments have 63 such cases that are waiting to be screened. According to the city government, 16 people have died since April before the results of screening could be provided amid an increase in number of applications based on the new guidelines.
In response to the national government’s notification, a city Relief Division staff member was quoted as saying, “We understand that the scope of relief for victims was expanded. Based on the national government’s notification this time, we will promptly inform applicants of the details of the notification and move ahead with the screening process.” The prefecture’s Atomic Bomb Survivors Support Division made the comment that, “We will work to advance the steps we need to take to issue certificates to as many people as soon as possible.”
(Originally published on October 12, 2022)
