Chioma Umeha
A 2015 Mandela Washington Fellow, Mr. Kunle
Adewale, early last week, inaugurated an Art in Medicine Fellowship for public
health practitioners and professional artists in Lagos.
Eighty-five medical professionals including
doctors, nurses, and trained caregivers as well as 15 visual artists were
inducted into the yearlong fellowship.
The 100 inductees will hold a series of creative
art engagements such as painting, drawing and collaging for children and young
adults living with sickle cell anaemia, cancer, and mental health conditions.
The sessions will be held for patients in selected
hospitals and healthcare centers in Lagos, including the National Sickle Cell
Centre, Idi Araba; Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH); and Federal Neuro
Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba.
Arts in Medicine project seeks to incorporate the
arts into healthcare delivery, with a view to enhancing holistic patient care.
The project is funded through a public diplomacy grant from the United States
Consulate General in Lagos.
According to Adewale, who doubles as project lead
of Tender Arts in Nigeria, the Arts in Medicine initiative will enhance public
perception of hospitals as centers for nurturing and healing.
“There is increasing evidence that the display of
visual art, especially images of nature, can have positive effects on health
outcomes, including shorter length of stay in hospital, increased pain
tolerance and decreased anxiety,” he explained.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Arts in
Medicine Fellowship, Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General, Lagos, Ms.
Darcy Zotter, expressed optimism that the initiative will go a long way in
improving the quality of lives of the participating patients.
“The Arts in Medicine initiative is yet another
example of projects that support U.S. Mission Nigeria’s goals. The U.S. Mission
to Nigeria’s Public Affairs Sections make available grant and funding
opportunities to carry out projects of this type, which have social impact.
“We are happy to support this project which seeks
to transform healthcare service delivery and healing through the arts. Creative
arts programs can help patients work towards recovery in an effective and
enjoyable way,” Zotter added.
