Nurses croon for patients

In a heart-warming gesture, nurses, drawn from different hospitals here, today sang songs for their patients suffering from various ailments at the Government General hospital here.
The event, held as part of the International Nurses week, was organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation as part of its 'Arts and Medicine' project and was inaugurated by Dr Annie P G, Superintendent at Ernakulam General Hospital.
Nurses and students from a number of hospitals and colleges, including Government Medical College, Ernakulam, Medical Trust College of Nursing, SI-MET College of Nursing Tripunithura and Palluruthy, Government General Hospital, Ernakulam, Perumbavoor District Hospital, Lakshmi School of Nursing and Indira Gandhi College of Nursing, performed at the event.

Hundreds of people including patients, bystanders, staff and medical students were seen enjoying the performance as the nurses chipped in with some of the best melodies in Malayalam, including 'Chanchaadiyadi' from the movie 'Makalkku', 'Swarakanyakamar' from the film 'Sandhwanam' and 'Vaaruvanillarumee' from 'Manichitrathazhu'.
"So far, the 'Arts and Medicine' project has largely been focussing on music programmes. The KBF is now planning to incorporate other art forms so that the patients can experience the healing power of art in its entirety," KBF Research Co-ordinator Bonny Thomas said.
Earlier in March, the KBF, in association with the cultural wing of the Indian Medical Association, had organised a musical programme by doctors.

The 'Arts and Medicine' project is being implemented with guidance from Iva Fattorini, Chair of Global Arts and Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, and Ernakulam district administration. Mehboob Memorial Orchestra has been giving musical support to the programme.
The project was launched by Union Minister for Food and Agriculture Prof K V Thomas on February 1.