(source: Courtesy of Červený nos)
SINCE 2006, the Červený nos/ Red Nose civic association has regularly brought clowns, clown doctors as they are called, to hospitals in 11 locations in major cities across Slovakia. Currently, 26 people are participating as clown doctors across the country.
In June, they will broaden their scope to include 11 more medical facilities, including the Children’s Surgery Department of the Children’s Teaching Hospital in Košice. Every year, the Red Nose clown doctors entertain some 25,000 young patients, paying special attention to those children enduring long hospital stays. The idea is to bring hope and cheer to these children.
The Slovak organisation is part of the International Network of Red Noses. Apart from arranging for visits by the clown doctors, the Czech organisation is involved in a programme to decorate hospital rooms in a hopeful and amusing way.
