At the ceremony.

Other entries of the contest were also sent to the Vietnam-German Friendship Hospital and the National Hospital of Traditional Medicine in a bid to create a more friendly treatment environment for patients.

These paintings are part of more than 4,100 submissions from nearly 100 schools, children and art centers nation-wide participating in the annual art contest co-hosted by the Embassy, VIDAFA, Kim Dong Publishing House, and Nhi Dong Newspaper last December.

When being hospitalized, both children and their families enter an especially vulnerable and stressful period. As the hospital’s surroundings can have significant impacts on the patient experience, the donated paintings are expected to transform the hospital’s clinical areas into warm, hopeful and healing spaces for both patients and health-care providers. Therefore, these colorful and imaginative drawings not only serve to brighten the hospital’s walls, but also have a mission to bring love as well as comfort through art to the young patients.

“Research in Denmark has shown that exposure to lively visual arts can bolster spirits, reduce stress and calm anxieties for family members while contributing beneficially to the patient’s recovery. It is my sincere hope, that the vivid artworks donated to Vietnam National Children’s Hospital will add a much-needed distraction to the young patients who come here for life-saving treatment,” said the Danish Ambassador Kim Højlund Christensen.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Chairman of VIDAFA, Tran Hong Ha also expressed his belief in the difference these paintings would make to the children and their families.

“These paintings offer children’s explorations of beautiful green dreams in which people, animals and nature live in harmony. These artworks radiate great imagination and inspiration. Therefore, I believe that they will have a very positive impact on the healing process of the pediatric patients undergoing treatments here and their families”, said Minister Tran Hong Ha.

“As medical professionals, we strive to make sure that each patient can still be a child while in the hospital. Therefore, we are very grateful for the donated paintings, which will create positive energy and make our patients feel much more comfortable during their hospitalization,” said Dr. Le Thi Minh Huong - Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital./.

M.Phuong