Posted on: Tue 01-04-2025

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In a healthcare landscape often focused on medications and procedures, Gbagada General Hospital in Lagos has taken a groundbreaking step by launching Lagos' first therapeutic playroom—a space dedicated to healing through play.

But why is this initiative so revolutionary? Could play be the missing element in child-friendly healthcare?

More Than Just Toys: Play as Therapy

Hospitals can be intimidating, isolating, and distressing for children—especially those battling chronic illnesses like sickle cell disease, cancer, and diabetes. Imagine being a child, confined to a clinical environment, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and painful treatments. Where is the joy? The comfort? The sense of normalcy?

This playroom is more than just a fun distraction. It is a therapeutic space where children:

• Learn to cope with their health conditions through role-play and storytelling.
• Reduce anxiety and fear associated with medical treatments.
• Build social and emotional skills by interacting with other children.
• Exercise their bodies and minds, helping maintain essential motor skills.

As Dr. Amenze Eguavoen, the visionary behind the initiative, puts it:
"The hospital is a scary place for children. There’s a loss of self-control, they’re away from friends and family, so the playroom provides an outlet—a safe space where they can just be children."

A Game-Changer for Pediatric Healthcare

The co-creation of this project—with input from healthcare professionals, parents, caregivers, and child advocates—ensures that it meets real needs. It also challenges the traditional approach to pediatric care, proving that mental and emotional well-being are just as important as physical treatment.

Importantly, the project is free and accessible to children from both public and private healthcare facilities. Corporate backing from Bama Mayonnaise of GB Foods has further strengthened its sustainability, with an initial two-year plan aiming for long-term integration into hospital pediatric care.

The Bigger Picture: Can This Be the Future of Child Healthcare in Nigeria?

This initiative is a bold statement—that healthcare should be holistic, humane, and child-centered. But the real question is:
Why aren’t there more therapeutic playrooms in hospitals across Nigeria?

If we want to truly transform pediatric healthcare, integrating play therapy into standard medical care should be a national priority. Every hospital should ask: Are we treating the disease, or are we also caring for the child?

With this innovative step, Gbagada General Hospital has set a precedent. The hope now is that other hospitals follow suit, making healing not just a medical process, but a journey filled with joy, comfort, and resilience.

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