First Lady brings cheer to children patients at hospital
Children from the Paediatric ward, Hermitte ward and Neonatal intensive care unit of the Seychelles Hospital received gifts from First Lady Natalie Michel who visited them yesterday.
Mrs Michel distributing gifts to the patients
Health Minister Erna Athanasius, the chief executive of the Children's Homes Foundation Noella Gonthier, head of the maternity unit Gillian Mein, the nurse in charge of the Paediatric Ward, doctors from different sections of the hospital accompanied Mrs Michel on her visits.
First Lady Michel took time to mingle with children in the Paediatric ward and delivered gifts while Santa Claus sought to keep them happy and occupied.
She then went to the Hermitte ward and the Neonatal intensive care unit before returning to the Paediatric ward where she was entertained by Les Rossignols choir.
Made up of children from different foyers, the choir sang a song entitled A friend in me which, coincidentally, is also the theme name of a project launched by Mrs Michel the same day.
Mrs Michel unveiled the plaque bearing the project theme name in the Paediatric ward.
Mrs Gonthier said the First Lady’s visit to the hospital is the first among many others under the A friend in me umbrella.
This includes her involvement in re-decorating and re-furbishing the Seychelles Hospital’s Paediatric ward and providing books, toys and DVD players to the section.
“The basic aim of A friend in me is to provide support and friendship to children, especially those who are chronically or terminally ill,” said Mrs Gonthier.
She also said phase one of the project is being carried out in the children’s wards on Praslin and La Digue and added that the First Lady has also sponsored the School for the Exceptional Child, the Centre for Children with Hearing Impairment as well as a day care centre on Praslin.
Mrs Gonthier said the task of carrying out the project would not have been possible without the help of the sponsors – Twinkle Twinkle Little Star which helped raise funds with its earnings, the International School of Seychelles which conducted a fund-raising activity and donated part of its proceeds, the Diplomatic Spouses Association and Mrs Debra Naiken for decorating the Paediatric ward free of charge.
Source: NATION 12-23-11