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
