Create psychosocial hubs for children in hospitals

We Couldn’t Have Done This Without You!

Lluvia Health Organisation is deeply grateful to every donor who believed in this vision. Because of your generosity, children visiting Gbagada General Hospital, Lagos Nigeria now have access to a safe and comforting play space within the hospital. In this place, they can laugh, play, express themselves, and simply be children despite the challenges of illness and treatment.

For many children in Nigeria, hospital visits can be frightening and emotionally overwhelming. Children living with chronic illnesses, disabilities, or requiring prolonged hospital stays often experience fear, anxiety, and isolation alongside their medical conditions. Yet emotional well-being is rarely addressed within healthcare settings. The Play and Thrive Project was created to help change this by introducing therapeutic play as an important part of child-centred healthcare.

The playroom at Gbagada General Hospital was developed through a collaborative process involving paediatricians, nurses, play therapists, parents, and children. Today, the space provides toys, books, creative activities, and structured play sessions facilitated by a trained psychologist and play interventionist working alongside the hospital team.

In April alone, the hub facilitated 51 play sessions and reached 42 unique children receiving care for conditions including sickle cell disease, acute illnesses, and routine immunisation visits. Feedback from 30 children showed that every child reported feeling happy during their session, while 90% said they thoroughly enjoyed their experience. 

While this is an important milestone, the work is far from over. Thousands of children across hospitals in Lagos State still lack access to safe, child-friendly spaces that support their emotional wellbeing during treatment and recovery. With continued support,Lluvia Health Organisation hopes to expand this model to more hospitals, train more facilitators, and reach many more children with the comfort, dignity, and joy they deserve.

Thank you for helping us take this first step. With your continued partnership, we can ensure that more children across Nigeria experience healthcare spaces that care not only for their illness, but for their happiness and wellbeing too.

Links:

• Story from the Gbagada Play and Psychosocial hub.