An exhibition with the theme of Mother and Child has been opened by Health, the Elderly and Community Care Minister Louis Deguara. The exhibition consists of 18 sketches of contemporary sculptures and artistic installations, one of which will be chosen as the official theme for Mater Dei Hospital.
The exhibition follows a call for artistic designs, which had to be original in concept, based on a dignified representation of the “Mother and Child”, in line with the name of the new hospital.
The sketches are by 14 artists, two of whom collaborated to design a sketch, while four others submitted more than one entry.
The Mater Dei Healing Arts Committee was set up to coordinate the use of art at the new hospital, since it is scientifically proven that art can have a therapeutic effect on patients, helping in their recovery process.
The public is invited to view the art sketches on show at the Health Ministry in Merchants Street, Valletta, until 31 March.
The exhibition is open between Monday and Friday from 10am to 6pm and on Saturday and public holidays between 10am and 1pm.
The Mater Dei Healing Arts Committee is expected to meet during the first week of April to select the winning entry. The winning artist will be awarded Lm500.
The committee is chaired by President Emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici and the committee members are Fr Marius Zerafa, OP, Dr Philip Farrugia Randon, Mr Patrick Galea, Ing. Ray Piscopo and Ms Margaret Abela.
Launching the exhibition, Minister Deguara said preparations for the migration process from St Luke’s Hospital to Mater Dei are well under way and part of the emergency section, the morgue and other sections of the new hospital have already been passed on to the government.
The employees’ training course, the Staff Information Programme, will enter its final stages next week, said Dr Deguara, adding that during the past few months, all hospital employees had been given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the surroundings in which they will be working.
During the last phase of their training, 300 “super-user” employees will be taught how to use new equipment and systems, and they will later pass on what they have learned to their colleagues.
A number of super-users are already being given training in the radiology department and the Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD).
Meanwhile, about 100 new pieces of equipment are being used at St Luke’s Hospital, so that employees can use them as part of their training programme.
The minister encouraged members of the public to visit the new hospital, to experience the high level of equipment and facilities on a first-hand basis.