The Israeli medical teams have tried to heal quake-hit Nepali children in a unique way with the help of Medical Clowns. Appearing in operating rooms and intensive care units with balloons, kazoos and blow-bubbles, these Medical Clowns have proved very effective in bringing children out of trauma and pain, said Israeli officials. “When everything is grim and dark, these Medical Clowns tried to lift their spirit. This had a very positive impact on the injured children and their families in Nepal,” said Ohad Horsandi, spokesperson of Israeli Embassy in New Delhi.
Medical Clowns are part of Israel’s Dream Doctors projects which uses clowning therapy to distract the patient from their suffering and helps heal them faster. Their expressive abilities enable them to calm fears, bring smiles and inspire trust in the medical teams making treatment process. Israeli officials said it is quite often impossible to treat certain children without the presence of a Dream Doctor who mediates between the patients and the doctors in ‘white jackets.’ And since medical clowns team up with doctors to develop laughter therapies which help easing pain, Israel decided to use them in Nepal as well.
With special focus on children, Israel has also flown in a large number of pediatricians along with psychologists and psychiatrists to help children and their families come out of trauma of quake. Israel has set up one of the biggest field hospitals in Kathmandu catering to about 200 injured a day with its 120 medical staff. The hospital in the last ten days has seen 8 births, saved more than 80 lives and treated over 1,200 people of serious injuries. “Our biggest effort was to save a 15-year-old boy who was dug out of rubbles after five-days,” said Israeli ambassador to India Daniel Carmon while listing out the efforts of the medical teams in Nepal. Carmon thanked India for its logistical support.