Sick children get a dream room at Steve Biko hospital
SICK children at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria can now breathe a sigh of relief after a new paediatric ward was donated yesterday.
The state-of-the-art ward, dubbed the “dream room”, is equipped with reading books, toys that include PlayStations and a virtual reality system to distract the children from the pain and agony they are going through.
The ward that was renovated and turned into the dream room was donated by non-profit organisation Reach for a Dream in partnership with network carrier Cell C.
Speaking at the special handover event, attended by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, in the hospital’s paediatric wing, Reach for a Dream Foundation CEO Julia Sotirianakos said the room was an oasis.
“These children are undergoing a lot of treatments … so this is a distraction away from the pain and agony.
“We have renovated the entire ward and provided children with virtual reality sets to distract them from their cardiac conditions.”
Sotirianakos said the organisation started building dream rooms from 2018 and there are 35 more like the one at the Pretoria hospital across the country, including at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital, Charlotte Maxeke hospital and George Mukhari hospital.
Nkomo-Ralehoko said the objective was to create an environment that was safe, uplifting, and stimulating for children. “Our collective vision was to create an environment that serves as a safe haven. The renovation of this ward is more than just a physical transformation. It is an upliftment of spirits, an enhancement of patient care, and a true representation of the dreams we all hold for these brave children.”
She said the renovations marked a significant milestone. “It stands as a beacon of hope.”