‘Clown doctors’ in Hong Kong prescribe laughter as medicine for sick children
Charity sends volunteers to visit patients in hospital to perform magic tricks, sing and entertain them to boost their mental and emotional well-being
Among the crisp, white coats donned at the hospital, Dr Fei-Fei stands out with her customised, colourful one, adorned with vibrant cartoon patches.
Armed with a few magic tricks, the “clown doctor” prescribes a weekly dose of humour to her patients.
For two decades, specialist entertainers acting as “clown doctors” have been sent by charity Theodora Foundation to cheer up sick children in local hospitals. Dr Fei Fei, whose real name is So Pui-ching, is one of seven such “doctors” in Hong Kong.
The Switzerland-based organisation began running clown doctor programmes in 1994, with its projects now operating around the world. But it has only one operation in Asia, which is located in Hong Kong. The programme in the city now serves more than 10,000 patients each year in six hospitals.
“Mental and emotional well-being is very important for sick children,” So, who works as an office clerk, said. “We are not just trying to be performers at the hospital but their friends in spirit.”
So has been volunteering three hours each week for the past 15 years to perform magic tricks and entertain the sick children. She said that many of them are chronic disease patients, including those who suffer from cancer and paralysis.