Bustamante Hospital pushes forward on holistic wellness

The Bustamante Hospital for Children is adding to its suite of services, with its Animal-Assisted Recovery and Care Programme (AARCP) and a combined spiritual and psychological support initiative while continuing to provide comprehensive medical care to children 12 years old and younger.

Now, more than 12 months since the launch of the AARCP, 142 patients have benefited from animal therapy, which seeks to complement healthcare delivery to patients undergoing procedures or who require long-term hospitalisation.

Under the programme, there have been monthly interactions and educational sessions involving pre-selected patients and animals. Staff and parents also benefit from the visits and interactions with animals.

Speaking during a visit to the health facility last Thursday, Minister of Health & Wellness Dr Christopher Tufton saluted the staff for their work in introducing the other dimensions of wellness.

“I commend the team on embracing the concept of wellness and the one-health approach, which is reflected in the adoption of the Animal-Assisted Recovery and Care programme. At the same time, we understand that our mental health and wellness is not divorced from our physical health, and we want to give our children the best chance at optimal recovery,” Tufton said.

Additionally, during his visit, the minister handed over a ‘wellness bench’ to the facility, noting the donation of was being made as part of the ongoing Do Your Share Mental Wellness Campaign and its Wellness Check-In feature, which has important synergies with the AARCP.

The hospital has also recently renovated its chapel through $1.5 million in support from the Sandals Foundation. The space is a multipurpose area that facilitates the function of social work, including counselling and private meetings with parents, as well as a prayer/meditation facility for staff members and patients alike.