Description
Hundreds of children walk through the doors of Shoe4Africa Pediatric Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya everyday. They face many obstacles varying from acute illnesses to cancer and burn wounds or even dealing with the stress of a sick family member. According to the Child Life Council Evidence-Based Practice Statement on therapeutic play in pediatric health care, “Research provides evidence for the effectiveness of therapeutic play in reducing psychological and physiological stress for children facing medical challenges.” Shoe4Africa had a need for an outdoor playground where children can nourish their mental and phyical wellbeing. A $1,500 service learning grant was obtained by students to build a safe and stimulating play area on the hospital grounds. Play promotes cognitive and social development which is crucial in every young life. Childhood play surpasses culture barriers which gives Purdue Pharmacy Students on rotation at the hospital the chance to interact with and support children of the community in which they are learning. Participation in this project allowed student pharmacists to learn about patient care and community engagement outside of the pharmacy, develop communication skills, and break cultural barriers. Student pharmacists are now given the opportunity to develop skills beyond their pharmacy training though engaging in therapeutic play that can later translate to interactions with other pediatric populations. Future plans for the play area include incorporating medication education for the parents conducted by student pharmacists and promoting healthy activities for children and their families.
Creating a Play Area for Shoe4Africa Pediatric Hospital: A Purdue University College of Pharmacy Service Learning Project
Hundreds of children walk through the doors of Shoe4Africa Pediatric Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya everyday. They face many obstacles varying from acute illnesses to cancer and burn wounds or even dealing with the stress of a sick family member. According to the Child Life Council Evidence-Based Practice Statement on therapeutic play in pediatric health care, “Research provides evidence for the effectiveness of therapeutic play in reducing psychological and physiological stress for children facing medical challenges.” Shoe4Africa had a need for an outdoor playground where children can nourish their mental and phyical wellbeing. A $1,500 service learning grant was obtained by students to build a safe and stimulating play area on the hospital grounds. Play promotes cognitive and social development which is crucial in every young life. Childhood play surpasses culture barriers which gives Purdue Pharmacy Students on rotation at the hospital the chance to interact with and support children of the community in which they are learning. Participation in this project allowed student pharmacists to learn about patient care and community engagement outside of the pharmacy, develop communication skills, and break cultural barriers. Student pharmacists are now given the opportunity to develop skills beyond their pharmacy training though engaging in therapeutic play that can later translate to interactions with other pediatric populations. Future plans for the play area include incorporating medication education for the parents conducted by student pharmacists and promoting healthy activities for children and their families.
