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Doctors clown around to make children smile

Our main aim behind this project was to try to relieve patients of the pain not only by painkillers but also through laughter

Published: Wed 4 Jan 2017, 8:16 PM

Updated: Thu 4 Jul 2024, 8:49 AM

  • By
  • Saman Haziq

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They say that laughter is a medicine and a bunch of medical students tried this therapy to lift moods of patients at the Dubai Hospital. About 15 students of Emirates Medical Students' Society (EMSS) barged into the paediatric section of the Dubai Hospital with their faces painted as clowns.

"Our main aim behind this project was to try to relieve patients of the pain not only by painkillers but also through laughter. Further, we also aimed on reducing the fear most children have of doctors in their white coats," said Madiha Fathima, fifth year medical student from Dubai Medical College, and national officer of the EMSS' Standing Committee On Medical Education (SCOME). The committee works towards creating, developing and implementing medical education and healthcare system.

"Children who are hospitalised constantly have this fear that the doctor will come and put an injection or give some of those bitter medicines. So we thought to change their perception about us doctors and give them a fun day at the end of the year so that they can start the new year with fresh minds and happiness, Madiha told Khaleej Times.

After taking permission from the Dubai Hospital and with the support of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), the medical students with their white doctor coats on, faces painted and donning fancy clown hats, surprised the children.

The clown doctors used magic, music, storytelling and other clowning skills to empower children with doses of fun that would help them deal with a range of emotions they may experience while in hospital: fear, anxiety, loneliness, boredom.

"We arranged some activities in the play area of the hospital, such as magic shows, karaoke, story telling session and puzzles, we gave them Disney mugs and plates.

"It was not only the kids who enjoyed, but the parents looked relieved and even left the kids with us to either take coffee break or for paper work," Madiha said.

'Everything is going to be okay'

"Although we were engaged only with the kids, we were also giving the parent some 'breathing space'. This was our way of saying 'It's alright, everything is going to be okay'," Madiha added. The few kids who couldn't join the play area were, however, not left out. The students went to their rooms to give them gifts and show magic tricks.



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