The old adage ‘laughter is the best medicine’ is precisely the approach that Dr Klown firmly practices and believes in, who this month celebrate ten years of bringing laughter and smiles to children in hospital wards.

In 2010, a group of people coming from all walks of life who had a similar goal came together to develop the idea of making children within hospital wards excited and happy despite their situation.

Rolled out across the paediatric wards in Mater Dei Hospital, Sir Anthony Mamo Oncology Centre and Gozo General Hospital, the non-governmental organisation Dr Klown sends Klown doctors to the wards of sick children, bringing laughter to those struggling with illness or injury. The Klown doctors use colourful props, a white lab coat and most importantly... a red nose to distract the children and help them go through the often frightening and confusing experiencing of being in hospital. The Klown doctors’ presence, the interaction with the children, the games, the language and the silliness are also very important.

The Malta Independent on Sunday spoks to Dr Klown President Eric Muscat and Vice President Corinne Wood about how the organisation developed and its journey as it celebrates its 10 year anniversary. Wood described the journey as being positive. However, she said that like every other organisation, there were some doubts at the start when setting up the NGO and challenges.

The concept of laughter in hospitals was new to the Maltese society

“The initial doubts were primarily related to the reaction of the public towards Klown doctors entertaining in hospital wards. Each country has its own culture and the concept of laughter in hospitals was new to the Maltese society, especially at the time,” Wood said.

She also added that the hospital itself had reservations on the matter due to its protocols. The idea of allowing Klown doctors to enter hospital wards for entertainment purposes was looked upon with caution. 

“Initially, this was a disturbance for hospital staff and people did not know what to expect. However, with time things changed and people became more accepting of the concept,” she said.

Wood, who is also a medical doctor, has been a part of Dr Klown from the very beginning, whilst Muscat joined in 2019 as he stepped back from the work he was doing at the time, started his retirement journey and identified an NGO he is able to contribute to.

Highlighting various aspects and challenges related to the development of the organisation itself, Muscat noted that apart from common issues that arise relating to finance, operations, teamwork, marketing, innovation, among others, at the time, the controls necessary for operating a voluntary organisation were not sufficiently mature.

“At Dr Klown we are mindful of the purpose for which we collect funds and we account for them diligenty. We ensure they are used at the core of what we stand for, which is to make children within hospital wards smile and keep them distracted,” Muscat said.

Wood praised the Klown doctors for their constant enthusiasm, altruisim, kindness and positivism that radiates as soon as they enter a room.

“I was going through a phase where I believed that humanity is just selfish. The Klown doctors taught me that there are genuine people out there in the world, who want to help others and who genuinely want to make someone happier,” Wood said.

Becoming a Klown doctor is not a piece of cake. Speaking about the recruitment process of Klown doctors, both Muscat and Wood noted that this can be quite challenging as finding the right people who are fully committed is not an easy task.

Klown doctors are not medical doctors but volunteers who are both artistically and psychologically trained as caring clowns to entertain children in hospitals. Their training spans around 12 months preceded by a thorough psychological assessment. This is done to ensure that the aspiring Klown doctors are mentally fit to undergo training and interact in an environment with hospitalised children.

“We receive several requests from people wanting to join the organisation as they would have been touched by the Klown doctors in wards. However, people don’t always realise the committment it requires. Once aspiring Klown doctors complete their training, they are then assigned to shadow a more experienced Klown doctor for six months before being allowed to take the lead,” Muscat said.

Klown doctors work as a team in pairs or threes when visiting wards. The situation within the hospital wards can be difficult and overwhelming, therefore, one needs to support the other.

Apart from being the Vice President of the organisation, Wood also experienced the reality of being a Klown doctor herself. She highlighted that the greatest challenge for the Klown doctors entails detatching themselves enough from what they are witnessing in the wards to make the young patients smile. 

“It is very difficult not to get unnerved with what you see infront of you in the wards,” Wood said.

She recalled some of her fondest memories since joining the organisation, saying that the buzz and positivity that flows whenever a couple of Klown doctors are placed in a single room is undescribable.

“The excitement that gleams on the children’s faces whenever Klown doctors enter their hospital ward is also a very fond memory as you can hear the excited children passing on the message that ‘the Klown doctor is coming.’ This is a unifying moment within the ward itself.

We would be here for days on end listening to the stories and memories experienced by the Klown doctors. The memorable but personal memories like the warm hugs from the children or parents’ remarks telling you: ‘My child hasn’t smiled for months’ are memories not to be forgotten but forever cherished,” Wood said. 

Meanwhile, Muscat recalled other memories including the Dr Klown parade which was organised to show solidarity with children who are sick and/or hospitalised. Events organised at Mater Dei Hospital were also mentioned as fond memories for the organisation.

Muscat also accentuated the dedication and kind hearts of the Klown doctors, noting how one particular Klown visited a child before an operation and waited until that operation was finished. Following such an experience, that Klown had to take a three-week break due to the heavy emotional load of the situation... he just couldn’t go back to hospital.

Adding on to what was explained by Wood regarding the role of the Klown doctors, Muscat highlighted that they are trained to switch into character.

“On a psychological level, Klown doctors need to put everything behind them and switch into a totally new character the moment they put on their red nose. This requires a significant amount of mental preparation to let go by warming up, not only artistically but also psychologically,” Muscat said.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which although has calmed down is still present, activities celebrating Dr Klown’s 10th anniversary are quite restricted. Throughout the year, the organisation had planned events such as a graduation for the new Klown doctors but has had to cancel more than once due to the situation.

Nonetheless, Muscat highlighted that given the improved situation of the pandemic, the organisation is currently preparing a documentary on Dr Klown and organising a tree planting ceremony at an exhibition. There is also work being done to put up an aristic pose in the reception area of Mater Dei Hospital. 

 

Final stages of negotiating the re-entry of Klown doctors into wards

Speaking about the organisation’s journery during the Covid-19 pandemic, Muscat noted that Dr Klown has just reached agreement with the hospital authorities and with medical specialists for the re-entry of the Klown doctors into wards.  

The Klown doctors haven’t visited hospital wards in-person since March 2020. However, to remain active with the children, Dr Klown shifted to online channels with Klown doctors visiting children over digital communication.

“I am kicking myself on why we didn’t think of opting for online means before and entertain children who require treatment abroad. Although the Covid-19 pandemic was ardous for many, it sometimes bore fruit as it taught us new ways of operating.

Post-pandemic the organisation will continue to offer the option to children and their families to meet Klown doctors online,” Wood said.

When entering hospitals, the Klown doctors will have to follow health protocals including the wearing of masks and disposable gowns. Considering the fact that Dr Klown emphasises the importance of a smile, the mask might hinder such facial expressions. However, Muscat is confident that the Klown doctors will excel nontheless and bring a smile to the childrens’ faces. Masks and visors have been artistically made up.

Shifting the whole process online was a great challenge for the organisation as it comprised a lot of planning and changes, not only for the Klown doctors but also for the children and their families. With the help of sponsors, the organisation took it upon itself to prepare a special room within which Klown doctors could work as some found it psychologically challenging to switch into their clown character from home.

A training programme was also provided to the Klown doctors to help them adapt their clowning style to the online environment and to provide instructions on the use of the technology itself to allow them to keep on delivering clowning services.

 

What does the future hold for Dr Klown? 

Wood and Muscat noted that there is a need for more Klown doctors to join the organisation, to expand services to cover both hospital and online visits, and to replace volunteers who need to slow down or break for a while.  A  recruitment process will therefore be due in the near future. There may also be room for full time Klown doctors and expansion to provide clowning services for the elderly although it’s early days.

 

Dr Klown photos: Anja Goder