Refectory I of the Social Services Unit of the University of Lisbon (SASUL)

The Students’ Association of the Faculty of Medicine of Lisbon (AEFML) will organize this year the 15th Edition of the “Hospital of the Little Ones” Project, which will be held in Refectory I of the Social Services Unit of the University of Lisbon (SASUL) between 21 and 25 November 2016. The schedule for schools will be Monday to Friday, from 9:30 am to 17 pm.

There will also be two days for the general public in the Knowledge Pavilion at a date yet to be confirmed.

This project was initiated by EMSA (European Medical Students’ Association), an organization made up of associations of medical students in Europe, and has had the participation of countries such as Sweden, Germany, Austria, Croatia, and the United Kingdom. The “Hospital of the Little Ones” aims to reduce the anxiety children feel when in the presence of a health professional, particularly during consultation and in hospitals, and is aimed at children between 3 and 7 years of age. About 2,300 children are expected to participate. To join children only need to bring a doll that has a “boo-boo” and the will to play!

During the event, children will be received in a Waiting Room, where there will be some games and activities. The “patients” are not the children, but the dolls they bring along with them. Just like when going to hospital, the itinerary begins with a screening room where the dolls’ diseases will be evaluated by the “health worker”, after which they receive a coloured ribbon with their names. Then they are taken to the Consultation Room, the Blood Testing Room, the Imaging Laboratory, the Surgery Block, and the Treatment Room. In addition to these, there are also Dentistry and Nutrition consultations, as well as a visit to the “Pharmacy”. In each of these areas, children can participate in the treatment process, validate their visiting cars and receive several gifts related to the areas in question.

In the end, they receive a participation certificate and will be offered a snack and a bag of gifts.

The Hospital of Little ones has the capacity to receive 60 children per hour. It is a joint and sequential work of all employees from the different steps of the event.

The importance of the support/sponsorship of various public and private entities must be emphasised, as it enables the implementation of a project of this size. The entities include banks, hospitals and supermarkets, among others.

This project will help the children understand the “health world” better, and will be an asset to university students who learn not only to create and conduct projects, but also to interact with children in a “hospital setting”.

Additional information:

Website of Hospital of the Little Ones

e-mail hpequeninos@aefml.pt

Tel:  217 818 890

Organizing Team

hpequeninos@aefml.pt