Three months after the March 11, 2001 earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan, a Philippine Medical Mission Team was deployed to undertake psychosocial intervention among Filipino women, their children and their spouses in Iwate and Miyagi Prefectures from June 28 to July 13, 2011.

Dr. Bernardino A. Vicente, Medical Center Chief of NCMH and Chief Training Officer of MHPSS designated Dr. Aida L. Muncada and Dr. Sharon J. Triunfo who are both Child and Adolescents and Adult psychiatrists to be deployed for this mission. Dr. Ma. Paz Corrales of CHD/HEMS-DOH was identified as team leader by Chief HEMS-DOH, Dr. Carmencita Banatin. The Philippine Team was joined by two Japanese psychiatrists (Dr. Shinfuku and Dr. Suzuki), three psychologists (Ms. Yamauchi, Ms. Barnes and Ms. Murakami); three Filipino coordinators (Ms. April Morito, Ms. Malou Okuyama and Ms. Carina morita); and three liaisons from the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mr. Ishikawa, Mr. Matsuda and Mr. Shinozawa).

One hundred nine four (194) persons were seen. There were 135 Filipino women, 43 children and 12 Japanese men married to Filipino women. Ten sites were visited with two visits in two sites. The clients were seen in the community center, temporary shelters, and evacuation centers. Home visits were likewise done.

Overall, this first medical mission was successful as it was a collaboration and cooperation among different government and non-government agencies, to wit: the Philippine Embassy in Japan, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Department of Health, the Japan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the NGOs (Kapatiran, Catholic Tokyo International Center, and the International Organization for Migrants). There is a need to continue this collaboration and mission in order to cover other areas not visited during this mission and so as to follow up those who have been seen.