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Big-hearted volunteers have brightened up the facilities for paediatric patients at American Mission Hospital (AMH) in Manama by painting colourful cartoon characters on the waiting room walls of a refurbished clinic.
The new-look unit was unveiled by Shaikha Hind bint Salman Al Khalifa, chairman of Al Rashid Group, which donated toys from its Mothercare range for youngsters to enjoy in the waiting room.
The entrance walls were decorated by 26 artists from the Bahrain School in Juffair, the US Naval Base and hospital staff, alongside family members and friends.
American James Myers, an artist and art teacher at the Bahrain School, supervised the painting initiative along with Julia Maria Tovey, AMH quality improvement and risk management director, and Carolyn Jones, the chief of protocol for the US Naval Forces’ Fifth Fleet.
Mr Myers said: “Mrs Jones approached the school back in mid-October asking if we could do something to make the clinic look like a nicer place for the children and, after a brainstorming session with Ms Tovey, we decided on universal images such as Winnie the Pooh and Aladdin.
“We had some paint donated by the parents of the school’s students and AMH gave us plenty of time to work on it. It took us about three months and 350 man hours to complete the project. We had a great time doing it.
“Last week while I was painting and my back was turned to the entrance I heard a little boy scream ‘hey dad, look, it’s Aladdin’. I turned around and there was this little kid in his father’s arms with big eyes and an even bigger smile. We all stopped and thought that is what it’s all about.”
The volunteers will return in a couple of weeks to paint the rest of the clinic after its remodelling is completed. Ms Tovey explained: “Research has shown that children can become physiologically disturbed by coming to a hospital because they often associate it with pain so we want to counteract that and make the experience as child-friendly as possible.
“Originally the clinic was bland and the patients had nothing to stimulate them. Now the murals provide a very vibrant and friendly atmosphere for our patients.
“Six weeks ago we also decided to knock down a few walls and build a paediatric unit especially for patients in need of short-term treatment instead of them having to visit an adult ward. It will be open in June and it will include six to eight beds for paediatric care.”
According to Ms Tovey a coffee shop, Bella Dona’s, has also been opened to provide a comfortable area for parents with children staying in the paediatric unit. She said: “We aim to provide family-centred care and not just a place to treat sick children.”
A stunning water-colour called Discovery has also been donated to the clinic by celebrated American artist Pamela Alderman who has had her work showcased in major children’s hospitals from Philadelphia to San Diego.
