News

A bequest given to the Tohoku University Fund will be used to build a childcare centre for the children of staff at Tohoku University Hospital.

The property in Hachiman is a 15 minute walk from the hospital and is situated on 880 square metres of land. Former patients of the hospital made the endowment with the wish that it be used to support medical developments.

The decision to build a childcare centre is welcomed by the more than 3,000 staff, many of whom compete to enrol their children in local day care services. There are currently over 130 staff on pre-natal or parental leave, but the hospital's sole existing childcare centre only has spaces for 26 children.

"On behalf of the staff at Tohoku University Hospital I would like to thank our benefactors for enabling us to establish a campus childcare center," said the hospital's director, Dr. Nobuo Yaegashi. "In supporting us, they are helping to support our mission to further medical developments at Tohoku University Hospital."

In a bid to increase support for working parents and those returning to work, expanding childcare services has been a priority for the hospital for some time.

The new centre, which can accommodate 120 children, will be one of the largest on-campus childcare providers at a national university in Japan. It is due to open in April, 2018.

Details of the childcare centre :

Location: Hachiman, Aoba ward, Sendai City
Number of children: 120
Building: Steel construction / 2 storey / 880m2 / Playground 225m²
Facility opening: April, 2018