Health issues today in affected areas near Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant

Due to vigorous efforts to decontaminate the environment following the accident at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, the size of the difficult-to-return zone has reduced significantly and people have started returning to their homes. As the population has increased, medical needs have ensued. A marked increase in traffic as well as decontamination and reconstruction projects has led to an increase in the number of road traffic and occupational accidents. Acceleration of population aging has resulted in an increased number of elderly residents with multiple medical problems. Uncontrolled/untreated medical problems among middle-aged to older workers have made them susceptible to deterioration of health conditions. Insufficient social support for elderly people living alone has resulted in delayed access to medical care. Early intervention and the prevention of health deterioration are instrumental. When responding to medical needs, proactive approaches, including home visits for elderly patients and health promotion, have been implemented. Human resource development is crucial to ensure the sustainability of these activities.