Bringing Virtual Reality to hospitalized children

"We are thrilled to partner with Organon to bring this Dream Room to life at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. For children enduring long and difficult treatments, these spaces offer more than just entertainment — they provide a much-needed refuge where children can express their creativity, discover joy and forget about their illnesses, even if just for a moment. This Dream Room will spark imagination and hope in countless young hearts, and we are truly grateful to Organon for helping us make this dream a reality." says Julia Sotirianakos, CEO of Reach For A Dream. 

Through our Dream Room programme which expands across the country, we provide more children with access to VR technology for relaxation, education, and entertainment.We feature a range of exciting activities and equipment aimed at both entertaining and stimulating young minds, including virtual reality headsets, PlayStation 5 consoles, interactive TV setups and a variety of educational development activities. In addition to fun and entertainment these features provide meaningful impact on the emotional and developmental well-being of young patients undergoing long-term treatments at hospitals.

We believe that children should continue to experience the joy of play, even during illness, as it is a vital aspect of their development. We hope that this newly built dream room will provide the play and laughter that children truly need during their hospital stay," says Mokgadi Mashishi, Africa Access Markets Director at Organon.

Recent Developments on how Reach For A Dream continues to bring virtual reality to hospitalised children.

• Reach for a Dream & Vuma Initiative: This partnership has introduced "Dream Rooms" in hospitals, equipped with VR headsets to help children escape the clinical environment and experience moments of joy.
• Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital: A new Dream Room was launched in collaboration with Organon, featuring VR headsets, PlayStation 5 consoles, and interactive activities to support emotional well-being.
• Steve Biko Academic Hospital: Another Dream Room was established in the paediatric cardiac ward, offering children a sanctuary filled with VR experiences, books, and creative play.

Links:

• https://reachforadream.org.za/

VR is increasingly used to help reduce pain and anxiety, particularly in patients undergoing painful procedures or recovering from surgery. By immersing patients in calming, interactive environments, VR can distract them from pain or discomfort and lower their stress levels.

VR programs are designed to assist in physical therapy by encouraging patients to perform exercises in a virtual environment. The immersive nature of VR can make rehabilitation more engaging, motivating patients to complete exercises they might otherwise find tedious or painful.

VR is being used to treat mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, and phobias. Patients can be gradually exposed to scenarios that help them confront their fears in a controlled, virtual environment, under the supervision of a therapist. This method, known as exposure therapy, has been shown to be effective in reducing symptoms.

Overall, VR has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare experience, improving outcomes, and enhancing patient satisfaction. It’s an exciting area with continuous developments.
The only source of knowledge is experience- Albert Einstein