The benefits of laughing therapy are well known and soon it will also be practised in Malta.
When one thinks of a clown doctor, film snippets from Patch Adams released in 1998 come to mind. Patch Adams is based on a true story. He was a doctor who started to use clowning as a healing aid with hospital patients. Robin Williams portrayed the character of Patch in the Hollywood film.
Today, Patch is in demand as a speaker around the world and is still raising money for his dream of a free hospital. Patch regularly accompanies groups of clowns to Russia and troubled world spots.
Big Apple circus established the clown care unit in New York in 1987. This was the first structured hospital clown programme. Today, while the focus is still New York hospitals, programmes have been set up in other hospitals across the world and now also in Malta.
Clown doctors make fun of the hospital routine. They wear doctors’ white coats decorated with colourful pockets, stuffed with gadgets and tricks and use colourful stethoscopes. They do silly medical procedures such as ‘red-nose transplants’ and ‘funny-bone checks’.
The idea of introducing clown doctors in Malta was born after Jean Paul Fabri and Jean Pierre Busuttil participated as volunteers in a children’s pilgrimage to the shrine of the blessed virgin in Lourdes organised by the Assocjazzjoni Voluntarji Lourdes (AVL), last year. A plane full of Maltese children left Malta to join other children from all over Europe in Lourdes. Lourdes was magically transformed into one big playground with face painters, balloon modellers, concerts, parties and costumes. It was a unique experience especially for those who visit Lourdes regularly.
The two JPs felt the need to organise something similar for sick children in Malta. Mr Fabri was brainstorming on ideas to create something tangible. He came across a red clown nose, which was given to him during a fund raising activity for a group of clown doctors in Vienna. The idea was perfect to merge everything together and therefore the Maltese clown doctors were born.
The initiative is an offshoot of the AVL but the group is closely collaborating with the Health Ministry, Puttinu Cares and Daniel Delicata foundation.
“The ward environment is comfortable. The necessary infrastructure is there as all the paediatric wards in Mater Dei hospital were nicely furnished. But children often feel alone in hospital and the experience can be scary. We want to bridge the gap between the physical environment and the social one though interaction to put a smile on the children’s faces.”
“The plan is to have two themed animation teams made up of volunteers. One will consist of clown doctors and the other of cartoon characters. The bottom line will be to entertain the children and break the hospital boredom through jokes, art and crafts, music, story telling, balloon modelling, face paining and what not,” explained Jean Pierre, who has a sound theatrical background.
“The volunteers will be briefed on dealing with children who are unwell and prepared in team work and learning to complement each other,” they continued.
A poster calling for volunteers was sent via email last week and so far some 20 people returned feedback. The whole project is gaining initiative. Jean Paul and Jean Pierre are planning to launch the clown doctors by November.
Meanwhile, those willing to spend a few hours with children in hospital can contact Jean Paul on [email protected] or Jean Pierre on [email protected].
Rather than financial assistance, the group is receiving donated toys, props, musical instruments and other entertaining equipment that is suitable for children. Those willing to donate such items can also send an email.
Laughter should be shared. The healing power of humour has been recognised since antiquity. Everyone knows that ‘laughter is the best medicine’ but research has proven the physiological and psychological benefits to patients.
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