National May. 31, 2011 - 06:41AM JST ( 5 )

TOKYO —

A Tokyo doctor recently opened a clinic in the tsunami-stricken Tohoku region after she heard reports that there was a shortage of doctors in the area. Naoko Ishii, a Tokyo internal medicine specialist, opened the clinic in Miyagi Prefecture’s hard-hit Ishinomaki City.

Every Sunday and Monday, Ishii travels to the clinic from Tokyo to see patients. “I want to see as many patients as I can so that hopefully the people of Ishimaki will feel more secure,” she said.

Ishii had previously traveled to the Tohoku region as part of a volunteer effort, but said she opened the clinic because she wanted to stay on past the temporary tour of duty for volunteers.