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8. Health Center (Hoken Center)

The Health Care Division offers various services and telephone consultation to support families that will or are raising a baby. Details on the services and schedules are at the Health Calendar (link is Japanese only). 

8 - 1 Maternal and Child Health Handbook (Boshi Teccho)

8 - 2 Raising a Child

Information about a child’s growth and development

(1) Home Visit

A health consultant or a midwife visits families with a baby aged two months or below, to measure the baby’s weight, check the growth and offer advice on how to raise a baby.

(2) Health Checkups

- Infant Checkup (upon receipt of notification letter)

An infant checkup is provided to babies between three and four months. The checkup includes body measurement, internal checkup, BCG vaccination, consultation, baby food tasting, and others. It is an important checkup for early detection of disease. Please make sure to undergo the checkup.

- Consultation for 6 to 7 month-old Children

This includes body measurement, child consultation, baby food guidance and food tasting, development checkup, and dental care advice. Babies start to move actively between six to seven months, and individual differences start to develop. Consultations are made available as an opportunity to check the health of the baby.

- Checkup for 1 year and 6 month-old Children (upon receipt of notification letter)

This includes body measurement, development checkup, internal checkup, dental checkup, free fluoride treatment, and other consultation for children. This checkup is made during the rapid development and growth stage of children’s motor functions, words, intelligence and emotions. Please make sure to undergo the checkup.

- Toothbrushing Class for 2 year-old Children

A lecture on tooth decay prevention, individual brushing guidance (including plaque tests), dental checkup and fluoride treatment (free) are performed.

- Checkup for 3 year-old Children (upon receipt of notification letter)

This includes body measurement, development checkup, internal checkup, dental checkup, fluoride treatment (free), and other consultation for children. 

- Infant Consultation (application necessary)

Consultation on anything related to children from zero years of age to pre-school age. Health consultants, dietitians and dental hygienists handle individual consultations related to childcare and body measurement.

※The checkups for infants, 1 year and 6month-old children, and 3 year-old children are mandatory health check-ups. The schedule may be changed if the assigned date is inconvenient. If these checkups are not taken, the Health Division may give you a call or make a home visit; and may notify the Child Affairs Division and Child Consultation Center. 

If you have concerns about your child’s development, please check the English pamphlet by the Information and Support Center for Parents with Development Disorders.

8 - 3 Vaccination

To help protect your child from infectious diseases, please refer to the vaccination schedule given along with the pre-vaccination questionnaire, and have your child vaccinated. 

・Please bring your “Maternal and Child Health Handbook” or a record that shows vaccination history when going to the medical institution

・The child must be accompanied by a guardian who knows their child’s current health condition when going to the medical institution

・Routine Vaccination by the city is intended for its residents. If moving out of the city, please request for a change of vaccination card at your new place of residence.

8 - 4 Health Services for Adults

To help residents protect their health, the city offers health checkups and other services. People eligible for health checkups will be notified by post. Those eligible will receive guidance by mail and should apply. For more information, kindly go to the Health Division’s home page (link is Japanese only).