The Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga has opened a vibrant new children’s playroom at its paediatric ward, offering educational and social therapy to young patients admitted to the facility.Designed and equipped by Eastwood Anaba Ministries (EAM), the colourful space is stocked with learning and recreational materials aimed at supporting the emotional well-being and academic continuity of children during their recovery.
The initiative has already drawn widespread praise from local residents, particularly parents and caregivers.The project was championed by Mr Richard Addah, a neonatal nurse at the hospital, who led the fundraising and mobilization efforts.“I believe that introducing play into a hospital environment is like bringing a piece of home to the patients.
Healing is a natural event, and happy children heal naturally,” he stated. To ensure the space provided genuine educational value, the Municipal Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES) assigned Madam Georgina Anafo, a teacher from Sumbrungu Kindergarten School, to engage with the children twice a week.“This has been incredibly impactful,” Madam Anafo noted, and praised the hospital’s leadership.“Through this program, I have been able to assess the children’s academic strengths and weaknesses, particularly in sound identification and Jolly Phonics.
It allows me to spot learning gaps and give tailored advice to parents so their children don’t fall behind.”Madam Anafo urged other district hospitals across the region to replicate the model for non-critically ill patients.Her efforts were backed by Madam Faustina Lardi Bugre, a supervisor at the Municipal Education Directorate, who observed the sessions during a recent monitoring visit.“As you can see, the children are thrilled.
This is truly school away from school,” Madam Bugre said, adding that, “Our prayer is that they recover quickly and reunite with their classmates.”According to Madam Rita Noah, a Pediatric Nurse Specialist at the ward, the playroom acted as a form of “diversionary therapy,” which was crucial for mitigating the stress of hospitalization.
She said a nurse was regularly stationed in the room to supervise the children, “The playroom diverts their minds from the crying and painful procedures associated with hospital care,” Madam Noah explained.“When they are in this room, they often forget they are even in a hospital. Even on days when no formal play activities are scheduled, you find children eagerly waiting at the door for it to open.”Madam Noah added that the room provided an unexpected benefit: a much-needed break for exhausted mothers and caregivers.
“They are constantly on their feet, caring for their sick children day and night. The playroom gives them a safe space to let their children play while they relax and regain their strength.”Madam Paulina Ako-Ese, a parent watching the children play, echoed that sentiment, “I am so happy to see the children learning and playing at the same time. At one point, I completely forgot I was in a hospital. I am deeply grateful to the management.”While the playroom was already making a massive difference, hospital leadership is looking to the future.Dr Joseph Kojo Tambil, the Medical Director of the Hospital, expressed his gratitude to EAM, and noted that more resources were needed to maximize the room’s potential.
He appealed to non-governmental organizations, child-focused institutions, philanthropists, and the wider public to donate an electronic display screen as well as additional educational and recreational materials to enhance the children’s experience.
The children’s playroom stands as a shining example of the Upper East Regional Hospital’s commitment to delivering compassionate, patient-centred healthcare and demonstrates how strategic partnerships could transform hospital care into an experience that nurtures both healing and hope.
Source: Unit, Upper East Regional Hospital