KINGSTON, Jamaica. Friday, November 29, 2024: The Bustamante Hospital for Children is
adding to its suite of services, with its Animal-Assisted Recovery and Care Programme
(AARCP) and a combined spiritual and psychological support initiative while continuing to
provide comprehensive medical care to children 12 years old and younger.
Now more than 12 months since the launch of the AARCP, 142 patients have benefited from
animal therapy, which seeks to complement healthcare delivery to patients undergoing
procedures or who require long-term hospitalisation.
Under the programme, there have been monthly interactions and educational sessions involving pre-selected patients and the animals. Staff and parents also benefit from the visits and interactions with animals.
Speaking at a visit to the health facility on Thursday (November 28, 2024), Minister of Health & Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, MP saluted the staff for their work in introducing the other dimensions of wellness.
“I commend the team on embracing the concept of wellness and the one-health approach, which is reflected in the adoption of the Animal-Assisted Recovery and Care programme. At the same time, we understand that our mental health and wellness is not divorced from our physical health, and we want to give our children the best chance at optimal recovery,” he said.
Additionally, during his visit, Dr. Tufton handed over a Wellness Bench to the facility, noting the donation of was being made as part of the ongoing Do Your Share Mental Wellness Campaign and its Wellness Check-In feature which has important synergies with the AARCP.
The hospital has also recently renovated its Chapel through $1.5M support from the Sandals
Foundation. The space is a multipurpose area that facilities the function of social work, including counselling and private meetings with parents, as well as a prayer/meditation facility for staff members and patients alike.
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