The Therapeutic Playgrounds at the Red Cross War Memorial Childrenās Hospital (RCWMCH), was officially opeed, a leading specialist healthcare provider for children across Africa. Owing to the excellent paediatric care that is offered at the hospital, many of the little patients who visit the facility each year, are referred from hospitals across South Africa and Africa.
The launch event, which took place at the Main Therapeutic Play Area at the hospital in Rondebosch, Cape Town, was attended by donors, hospital staff and little ones.
Being that the operational costs of the Trust are funded from an endowment that is managed by The Childrenās Hospital Foundation, all of the R12.6 million that was raised from donations went directly to funding the playgrounds.
The Children’s Hospital Trust (CHT) commissioned the development of four distinct therapeutic play areas at RCWMCH, which have been designed in consultation with the Physio and Occupational Therapists at the hospital. Owing to this, these spaces offer far more than a fun time for little patients. These specially designed playgrounds are spaces of recreation, as well as rehabilitation and healing. Each of the playgrounds is geared to cater to children of all ages and abilities while aiming to stimulate physical, sensory, and social experiences. The playgrounds can be enjoyed by outpatients and family members, as well as in-patients who are well enough to leave the ward with supervision.
The playgrounds will be a welcome addition to excellent medical care for the 250 000 little patients who visit the hospital each year. With 10 000 of those patients visiting the Physiotherapy Department, and a further 9000 patients visiting the Occupational Therapy Department each year, the hospital’s vision of a rehabilitative playground facility becomes all the more compelling.
Speaking on behalf of the Harry Crossley Foundation, a benefactor of the Children’s Hospital Trust, Linda Whitfield said that the Foundation sees the need for a playground at a hospital for children. āIt brings a sense of normal to patients, parents, and siblings, in an often stressful situationā, she said. Whitfield, who is an Executive Trustee of the Harry Crossley Foundation, went on to identify play as a key part of the healing and rehabilitation process. āWe hope that this beautiful playground abounds with the sounds of laughter and joy and helps to restore those who play in it back to full healthā, she continued.
āWe are proud to announce the official opening of the Therapeutic Playground for children attending the Red Cross War Memorial Childrenās Hospital”, said Dr Anita Parbhoo, CEO of the Red Cross War Memorial Childrenās Hospital. She went on to add that the hospital caters to children with various abilities who come to the facility to receive specialised clinical care. “To us, this is not just a playground, but a safe place where children of all abilities can play and explore the worlds around them,” she added. According to Parbhoo, the multidisciplinary team who worked on this project, together with the Childrenās Hospital Trust have created a very special environment. “We thank the donors, whose generosity will leave a mark on the lives of children who visit the hospital, for years to come”, she concluded.
The four therapeutic play areas include:
- Main Entrance of Hospital: Therapeutic Play Area
- Occupational Therapy and Neuro Development Play Area
- Internal S1 Courtyard next to Outpatients Dept Waiting Area
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Each area is designed to address the needs of all children, including those with physical, developmental, cognitive and sensory disabilities. A mixture of play categories will help create an exciting, more inclusive playground. One piece of equipment might cross multiple categories.
Childrenās Hospital Trust CEO, Chantel Cooper, identifies this as a special project because of the importance of play for children. āI have wonderful memories of spending hours on a playground in a world of imagination and then again with my own children. I loved experiencing their excitement of trying new sources of play and hearing the laughter that comes with children having fun,” she said.
According to Cooper, the important role that play has in a journey of healing for children who are sick or have been injured cannot be undervalued and is what makes this project all the more special. “The cost of the project was supported entirely by the generosity of donors and we are truly grateful to them. We now look forward to hearing the voices of excitement and laughter on the four playgrounds around the Red Cross Childrenās Hospital”, she concluded.
