Two heads are better than one!
The programme builds on the success of the NOS! programme. It involves an individual approach by a Health Clown to a child with a serious diagnosis who is undergoing long-term hospitalisation. The Health Clown becomes their long-term support and partner. They help them get through the demanding treatment process from the very beginning until their return home. They accompany them to examinations, are with them during procedures, and spend time with them before and after surgery. The Child programme is not limited to specific hospital wards or illnesses. The healthcare clown establishes a warm, close relationship with the young patient and their family, which does not end after a single visit. They become their personal guide. They help them come to terms with the reality of hospitalisation and find bright and positive moments in it.
The programme was piloted in 2018 at the dialysis department of Motol University Hospital in Prague. Two Health Clowns took turns visiting a young patient awaiting a kidney transplant. They became his friends, a source of certainty in uncertain times. They were part of his life in hospital and helped him and his parents cope with the stress with a smile.
The wonderful reactions of young patients and the warm words of medical staff are the driving force behind our youngest programme. We look forward to the Child programme continuing to bring joy where it is lacking in the future.