BEDSIDE VISITS
Hospital stays, surgeries and tests are connected with fear, insecurity, and boredom - especially for children. Young patients often do not know nor understand what is happening to them and they are constantly anxious. Children experience sadness and loneliness through their treatment process in hospitals. Emotional needs and individual interactions are usually neglected in the hospital's daily routine.
As soon as RED NOSES Palestine Healthcare Clowns appear in the paediatric ward, the air fills up with fun. Children become carefree and happy as they are taken to a world full of jokes, magic and music. RED NOSES Healthcare Clowns make fear and pain quickly be forgotten as they give comfort and hope, whilst bringing a new zest for life and transferring positive energy to hospital rooms.
Annually, RNPS is bringing joy and laughter to more than 15,000 sick children in hospitals, and to more than 20,000 parents and medical staff in the following hospitals:
- Augusta Victoria Hospital , Jerusalem
- Makassed Hospital, Jerusalem
- Hebron Governmental Hospital (Alia), Hebron
- The Huda Al Masri Cancer Paediatric Department, Beit Jala
- The Paediatric Ward at Al-Hussein Governmental Hospital , Beit Jala
- Palestine Medical Complex, Ramallah
- Rafidia Surgical Hospital, Nablus
- An- Najah National University Hospital, Nablus
- Thabit Thabit Governmental Hospital, Tulkarm
- Khalil Suleiman Hospital (Jenin Governmental Hospital), Jenin
- Darwish Nazzal Hospital, Qalqilya
- Tubas Turkish Governmental Hospital, Tubas
- Al-Ahli Hospital, Hebron
INTENSIVE SMILE PROGRAMME
Waiting to undergo a medical procedure in a hospital can cause children to feel helpless and passive, losing their self-confidence. Children may also suffer from stress, fear, boredom and anxiety about the upcoming procedure. In this state, children may become less compliant with the medical procedure making it more difficult for themselves and the medical staff too.
In the long-term, the trauma of the medical procedure can lower emotional and physical well-being, while increasing aggression and a sense of isolation. The parents may be overwhelmed by their child’s emotional needs, as they are dealing with their own stress and responsibilities. Medical and humanitarian staff may feel stressed and detached from their emotions, and they also may experience feelings of helplessness and/or burn-out.
Clowns mainly perform without a clown partner in order to be more focused on the child. Moreover, the clown develops a strong working relationship and becomes therefore a partner to the doctors and other staff involved in the treatment.
By making the environment more supportive, Intensive Smile contributes to:
- More access to humorous play for children
- A positive change in the medical environment through its impact on care providers
RED NOSES Palestine Healthcare Clowns appear in Surgical Departments to make the environment more supportive in:
- Augusta Victoria Hospital - Jerusalem
- Al-Hussein Governmental Hospital - Beit Jala
