April 17, 2020

Tetsuo Arakawa
President, Osaka City University?

As a Whole, Let’s Fight against COVID-19 to Avoid a Collapse of the Medical System!

In response to requests from the Osaka City and Prefectural Government, Osaka City University Hospital staff have been accepting patients who are seriously ill from COVID-19. Day and night, they have sacrificed their own need for medical treatment for these patients. Nevertheless, the number of special surgical masks and gowns to protect against the coronavirus are dwindling. In order to avoid a collapse of the medical system, special hospitals to accommodate moderately ill patients of COVID-19 and also a supply of medical protective materials are in urgent need.

Based on these current circumstances, Mayor Matsui has announced that Osaka City Juso Municipal Hospital will temporarily operate as a specialized corona hospital accepting moderately ill patients. Patients with mild symptoms are already being taken care in hotels and designated infectious disease hospitals as well as beds in the university hospitals are reserved for patients severely ill with COVID-19.

Osaka City University Hospital must take the lead in dispatching medical staff to hospitals specializing in COVID-19 care. Osaka is now in great danger. To avoid a collapse of the medical care system, our medical staff are carrying the great burden of urgently fighting during this emergency. Now is the time for us to stand up. Let's do what we can do to support their effort as a whole university!

The government is desperately trying to procure medical supplies, but under the current situation, they are not available. It is time to make use of the research we have established through our multi-disciplinary teamwork here at the Sugimoto campus. Faculty, staff and students, unite and show the power of our comprehensive university. The first thing we should do is work with companies and governments to produce quality protective materials to protect the medical staff working at the front lines. There are still many other things that we can do. Let’s start small - something we all can do. Let's all work together to overcome this battle!

I hope things go back to normal as soon as possible and I believe the day is drawing near where we can hold each other’s shoulders and share the joy that we all did our best.