The Indraprastha Apollo Hospital in New Delhi has a surprise for its youngest "guests". Anoothi Vishal checks out a first-of-its-kind "recreation centre" set up by Sanofi Aventis there.
Five-star hospitals are hardly a new phenomenon in India — even if the sheer pressure of population makes them resemble railway stations pretty soon, once the newness wears off. Nevertheless, food courts, room service and serious art on the walls do liven up things, you’ll agree, excuse the expression. Now, add “entertainment centres” for kids to these.
Two-year-old Raghav Bansal from Faridabad looks cherubic playing with a song book. He could be any other toddler at home — except that he is not at home. He has been staying at the paediatric ward of Apollo hospital, New Delhi, for almost two weeks when we meet him, having undergone surgery for tangled-up intestines, or that’s what we understand of his condition. Luckily for him, he’s recuperating, and fast. And the high point in his hospital stay undoubtedly is the new “recreational centre” for kids, which has come up at the hospital.
Though most hospitals do have a handful of toys and such for their youngest patients, this new centre for kids is the first of its kind in India. The best-loved feature here is a playstation, but there are also the likes of a bookshelf full of Noddys and Amar Chitra Kathas, Barbie dolls, blocks and Lego, board games, stuffed toys, not to mention cheerful furniture for the tots and even a moving bureau on wheels that can take a selection of toys to those too ill to move from their beds.
The centre is a philanthropy venture by French pharma major Sanofi Aventis — that has already set up 11 such centres in hospitals worldwide; the one at Delhi Apollo is the first in the BRIC region. A spokesperson says that the company hopes to do 6-8 such centres in the country in the next three years with various hospitals, which will provide not just the space but will also run the facilities intended for “long-staying” guests. Hopefully, the stays won’t be too long!