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UAE Patients and families at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals, celebrated the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha last week with festive snacks, henna artwork and craft activities.
The event, in GOSH’s Lagoon restaurant, opened up the Eid celebrations to include a wide range of participants, including hospital staff and patients and families from a variety of religious backgrounds and many countries including the United Arab Emirates.
The hospital’s deputy chaplain, Dorothy Moore-Brookes, said: “By celebrating Eid al-Adha at GOSH we are acknowledging that the festival is very important for Muslim families and therefore is a difficult time for them to be in hospital. It’s also important for our hospital staff to understand this, as well as other children and families at GOSH.”
Commenting on the Eid celebration in the Lagoon, Rizwana, mum of GOSH patient Abdulsamad Yameen, 9, said: “There’s a fantastic atmosphere here. It’s so lovely to see all different cultures celebrating together.”
Lee Phillips, dad of GOSH patient Ellie, 10, said: “Ellie’s just arrived as an inpatient and the play team recommended we come down as there are lots of creative things for the children to do while we are waiting for test results.”
Ellie’s sister Katie enjoyed getting some henna decorations on her hands during the Eid event, adding: “It’s really pretty, and they used my favourite colour!”
Unfortunately some children were too unwell to come to the Lagoon celebration. Patients like Juma (pictured), 15, from Dubai, were given cuddly toys to help cheer them up.
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