The Bear Necessities

  

In the 2020 Spring Issue of Freemasonry Today, there was an article, called “Bear Necessities” which told the story of an initiative taken in the UK, to distribute cuddly teddy bears to A&E departments and Children’s hospitals, with the aim of calming down little children who were scheduled for surgeries or tests that required the use of needles etc. Over time, it had proven quite successful in the UK, and this was later replicated in hospitals within New Zealand, as it was seen that the children were more relaxed and at ease, having a little toy to help distract them from any painful experience involved in the dispensing of paediatric health care.

Emulating this same initiative, the Lodge Fiji launched the “Teddy Bear Initiative” late last year (2020)

After placing an order for a small shipment of teddy bears, these were brought into the country, with help from the Ronald McDonald House Charities (Fiji) and assistance from Williams & Goslings. All that was left was to have a strong process in place with a schedule that ensured that all the new children that came to the Children’s Hospital, would have a teddy bear, helping them during their stay. Much of this was drawn up from consultations held with the registered nurses and Senior Matron working at CWM Hospital.

Since then, members of Lodge of Fiji, as well as their partners, have committed their time, once a week to the “Teddy Bear Initiative” and they have all reported on how rewarding it has been, just to see the smiling faces of the little children and the gratitude shown from parents when they receive the teddy bears.

The coming months will also see plans to replicate this schedule and process and apply them to health centres and hospitals across the country (including Labasa), with the aim of having the teddy bear as part of the toolkit, when it comes to paediatric health care in Fiji.

Due to the covid 19 lock-down and temporary restrictions throughout 2021 and 2022, the teddy bear initiative had been suspended for some time, and has just recently been re-launched on the 24th of January, 2023, much to the delight of parents, nurses, doctors and of course, the little children at CWM Hospital

 

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