First Lady brings Christmas cheer to the sick and newborns |22 December 2012

Mrs Michel during her tour of the hospital yesterday

The visit is customary around Christmas time each year when Mrs Michel, who is also the chairperson of the Seychelles Children’s Foundation, visits the children and their parents to bring them a little Christmas joy and comfort as they are away from their homes for the Christmas preparations and merriment.

Mrs Michel was welcomed at the children’s ward by Health Minister Mitcy Larue who also led the visit on the ward.

The nurse and consultant in charge of the children’s ward Jeannine Nourrice and Philip Govinden and all the other pediatricians and nurses accompanied Mrs Michel while she visited the sick children individually, handing them presents and talking to their parents about their ailments and stay in hospital.

Among the patients was Haifa Sabury who despite being only a few months old has been hospitalised for some two weeks with a broken leg.

During her visit last year, Mrs Michel launched the ‘A Friend in Me’ programme which covers the renovation and refurbishment of the children’s ward.  The second phase of the refurbishment project has since been completed on the Souffle d’Ange and Papillon rooms of the ward to the joy and comfort of the children and parents.

Ms Nourrice noted that the little patients have long been looking forward to Mrs Michel’s visit.

Mrs Michel also visited the newborns at the maternity ward where some 20 mothers proudly showed her their newborns. The proud mothers received soft toys for their babies.

Sixty-three-day-old twins – Marius and Marcus – whose mother has been left in the care of the nurses also received the First Lady’s visit.

Gylian Mein, the nurse manager in charge of the ward, said the staff try their best to bring Christmas joy to the mothers and their babies, adding that Mrs Michel ‘s visit will help boost the spirit of staff and the new mothers during this festive period.