The Minamata Disease Center Project

THE MINAMATA DISEASE CENTER PROJECT

Every year the number of people with Minamata Disease symptoms increases both in Minamata City and in other parts of Japan. Since the discovery of the disease about 17 years ago, approximately 59 people have suffered through miserable deaths because of the affliction. As of September 1972, another 292 persons have been officially recognized as being victims of methyl mercury poisoning as a result of consfoot_blng seafood from the poisoned aquatic environment that is Minamata Bay. Beyond this, there are at present more than 370 persons waiting to be officially certified as patients of the disease so that they may also receive a small amount of social support. And with time these numbers increase.

There is no cure for the Minamata Disease. Once the central nervous system is damaged by organic mercury, there is no medical procedure that can reverse the destructive pathological processes that take place.

In order to deal with this unprecedented human tragedy, there is a movement among the victims and their supporters to create a Minamata Disease Center. Plans call for a facility that would provide for the following as yet unmet needs:

1.   A Base Center for Minamata Disease Victims to Provide Meeting Halls and Rooms
    Communication center for victims and their families
    Minamata disease information gathering facility
    Nursing care for congenital and aged Minamata disease victims
    Recreation center for victims and related persons

2.   A Center for Positive and Humane Medical Care for Lost and Forgotten Victims
    Organization of a medical research group
    Rehabilitation center for victims

3.   A Medical Research Center for the Minamata Disease
    Medical examination busses
    Medical consultation for victims
Resource and data material center for Minamata disease medical research

4.   Sheltered Workshop Center Where Disease Victims Could Gain Economic Independence

5. Communication Center for Victims and Supporting Volunteer Groups for Cooperative Planning and Action.

Contributions for the Minamata Disease Center are received at the following Minamata Disease

Center Offices:
Kumamoto: C/O Honda 4-22-2 chome, Shinyashiki, Kumamoto City, Japan 860
Tokyo: SEIRINSHA, Daiichi Tokyo Building, 2-8-13 Nishi Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan 105

0saka:
Osaka Minamata Support Group, Kita 1 Building, 1, Mansai-cho, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Japan 530