On 14 March, the halls of both the old and the new buildings of the Medical School in Pécs were filled with young children and their parents as the Teddy Bear Family Day was held for the fourteenth time. A total of 1,650 people registered for the event, but many others also visited the venue without registering. During the event, which lasted until early afternoon, children had the opportunity to learn about the medical profession and the healing process through playful activities, and of course, the stuffed teddy bear surgery was also part of the programme.
The Teddy Bear Hospital initiative, coming from Sweden, is an internationally recognised programme coordinated by medical students and doctors from various countries. Their goal is for children to learn about the medical examination process through playful activities and become familiar with the healthcare environment, so that they feel less nervous in real-life situations and their fear and anxiety are reduced. The organisers of the family day aimed to alleviate the “white coat syndrome,” namely, the fear of doctors.
Although it was Saturday morning, the halls of the Medical School in Pécs were filled with families with young children, where both kids and adults could find activities that interested them. One of the most popular programmes was the Teddy Bear Ambulance, where children could practice various medical procedures on stuffed bears, essentially stepping into the role of a doctor. At the “Hello, Ambulance!” booth, visitors could learn how to call an ambulance and what to say, while at the “Say Ahh” table, passersby received information on proper toothbrushing techniques and oral hygiene. At the Teddy Bear Pharmacy, the teddy doctors got a glimpse into the process of making medicine, and the Teddy Bear Operating Theatres were also constantly working.
Adults were not left out of the activities either; they could primarily participate in health screenings and CPR stations, and parents could also seek advice from paediatricians. On behalf of the organiser, the Pécs Medical Students’ Association (POE), Teddy Bear coordinator Dorka Loján emphasised that it was a particular joy for them to see so many children participating in the screenings, which clearly demonstrates the programme’s educational nature.
Throughout the day, in addition to medical students, members of the police, disaster management, and ambulance service helped convey health information in a playful way. Visitors could sit behind the wheel of a fire truck and also learn about the different equipment and its uses inside an ambulance. The youngest visitors were treated to a petting zoo courtesy of the Misina Nature and Animal Protection Association, and the band Iszkiri provided the lively atmosphere. Queues formed at the face painting and balloon twisting stations, and many were also interested in the sports programmes offered by students from the Faculty of Sciences Institute of Sport Science and Physical Education: visitors could try archery, participate in sensory tests, or test their skills on obstacle courses and in ball and dance games.
“It was a special honour for us that the Teddy coordinators from Szeged, Budapest, and Debrecen accepted our invitation. You could say that their visit has become a tradition. They spoke highly of the event, while also gaining valuable professional experience,” added Dorka Loján.
The event was organised by the Pécs Medical Students’ Association in collaboration with the UPMS Hungarian Admissions and Student Service Office.
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Photos:
Dávid Verébi