’s Lands Hospitaal is working on the establishment of a specialized Pediatric Center, where children and their families can receive medical care and psychosocial support. The center will be housed in the hospital’s former laboratory building. That space was used as a triage area during the COVID-19 pandemic but has since fallen into disrepair.
The initiative comes from pediatrician Laurindo Kloof. According to medical director and pediatrician Soenita Nannan Panday, Kloof proposed setting up a separate space for pediatric care upon his arrival at the hospital.
“Dr. Kloof came to work with us and asked if he could have a space for a children’s center. We discussed the plans and he submitted his project. We then decided that we could convert the old laboratory into the ’s Lands Hospitaal Pediatric Center. That is where we stand now,” says Nannan Panday in an interview with Key News.
Kloof calls the project an important step forward for pediatric care in Suriname. The center aims to provide medical, psychological, and social support to children with a wide range of issues. This includes not only common health complaints but also vulnerable situations such as child abuse and sexual abuse.
According to Kloof, the need for specialized care is significant. “Child abuse is a major problem in Suriname, and that will be one of our main target groups. On an annual basis, approximately 70,000 children become victims of child abuse in Suriname. These are harrowing cases,” he says.
The pediatrician emphasizes that child abuse is a complex problem that goes beyond physical injury. “It is not just a problem of the body. It is related to poverty, education, and the tools that parents have. We are not here to judge people. We are here to help people, to help families, and we do that together.”
In addition to care for children, the center also intends to provide guidance for parents. According to Kloof, the goal is to provide training on parenting and dealing with complex family situations, for example, when children run away from home or when families struggle with the guidance of their children. The building’s meeting room will be utilized for this purpose.
Nannan Panday states that ’s Lands Hospitaal has positioned itself as a mother and child center for many years. With the arrival of the new center, the hospital aims to make a greater contribution to the well-being of children even after birth. According to her, Kloof’s expertise as a social pediatrician plays an important role in this.
“We do not want to just keep reading reports about what happens to children. We also want to make a contribution,” the medical director stated.
The renovation of the building will cost over 400,000 US dollars. In addition, funds are needed for inventory, medical equipment, and renovations to other parts of the pediatric ward. The hospital cannot bear these costs independently. Therefore, a fundraising campaign has been launched.
For the fundraising, ’s Lands Hospitaal is collaborating with the Dutch recruitment agency TMI, which has been deploying doctors and nurses in the Caribbean and Suriname for years. According to Nannan Panday, TMI offered to support the hospital with the project.
Through a special donation campaign, people in both the Netherlands and Suriname can contribute. The proceeds are intended for the construction of the center and improvements to the existing pediatric wards. This includes the renovation of sanitary facilities, replacement of air conditioning systems, and painting.
The design of the center takes the well-being of children into account. According to Kloof, soothing colors and a child-friendly interior are being used to create a safe environment. The care concept focuses on restoring safety, trust, connection, and resilience in children who have experienced traumatic events.
Kloof says that children should be able to receive care there 24 hours a day. This involves looking not only at the child’s physical condition but also at the restoration of self-confidence and emotional stability.
In addition to the construction of the center, work is being done on staff training. Nurses and other employees are being trained in dealing with vulnerable children, so they can provide support in a professional and sensitive manner.
Interested parties who wish to support the project can visit the Facebook pages of ’s Lands Hospitaal and TMI for information on donation options.
