I wrote this column before Y2K became a reality instead of a speculation. I had water, a charcoal stove, six cans of tuna, batteries, and the hope that since I was ready, nothing would happen. But I didn't know. Now I do: Being prepared pays off again. Perhaps there was a hint of disappointment. We were expecting something!
Recently I wrote of Medecins du Monde, a group of doctors and nurses who, like Nobel prize winner Doctors Without Borders, go where the needs are greatest whenever a crisis strikes. They are part of a large group of professionals who give their skills to help those in need.
A few days later I had a letter from a Japanese doctor, Tetsuro Irohara. He wrote that he was deeply moved by the article and told me about his work. He did not ask for publicity, but I would like to tell you about him. He quit school at 21 and traveled extensively throughout Asia, often helping the underprivileged. Deciding he wanted to do more, he enrolled in medical school and after graduation chose to work in a remote mountain village in Nagano. Many Asian and Middle East people came to this area before the Olympics to work on construction projects (if they were men) or the entertainment industry (if they were women). Their problems multiply as work decreases. There are continuing work-related impairments, and ailments endemic to the entertainment trade inevitably resulting in HIV carriers and AIDS-infected people. He says many Japanese medical students come to his village to learn about community health care. (If I were to make a prediction, it would be that Japan's younger generation will make a huge contribution both within Japan and internationally.)