The first hospital Oasis in Italy is in Palermo

In Palermo the WWF inaugurates the first hospital Oasis in Italy

The project Oasis in the hospital launched by WWF Italy has now become reality. From today, in fact, within theHospital of National Importance and High Civic Specialization of Cristina Benfratelli of Palermo there is a new accessible and barrier-free natural space, which will allow contact with nature to be included in the rehabilitation paths of young patients, especially those in long-term care, and to encourage moments of tranquility and socialization between young patients and families.

Approximately 290 square meters of green area with trees, a microhabitat composed of a garden for butterflies, hedges and a small body of water, aromatic plants, a sensory path, nest houses and bird feeders and insect hotels. The Mediterranean garden created with a great variety of shrubs typical of the Mediterranean scrub is enriched with seats made with wooden logs and educational panels. The positioning of an olfactory box with fragrant essences of flowers and medicinal species inside invites children to recognize the wonders of nature with the sole use of smell.

These are some elements of the first Oasis in the Hospital that the WWF created in Italy, thanks to an important fundraising project launched with the edition of Urban Nature “Nature takes care”, to offer interventions aimed at creating real oases miniature to give to hospital facilities.

The inauguration on April 18th

Today in Palermo the first Oasis in a Hospital in Italy was inaugurated in the presence of Dr. Walter Messina (Extraordinary Commissioner of the ARNAS Civico Di Cristina Benfratelli); by Dr. Nicoletta Salviato, Representative of the Education and Health Promotion Operational Unit (UOEPSA); of Major Vincenzo Giordano, Communication Manager of the Palermo Financial Police; by Marco Galaverni, director of Oasis, Education and Activation of WWF Italy; of representatives of the WWF Sicily, of Dr. Giovanna Volo, Regional Councilor for Health and of local institutions.

“We are really excited to be able to inaugurate the first Oasis in a hospital in Italy today, and to do it in a city like Palermo. The connection between the health of nature and our health, from a One Health perspective, is something essential that we must rediscover and increasingly enhance. Knowing that hundreds of young patients and their families will be able to benefit from these natural spaces fills us with pride, but all this would not have been possible without the support of donors and volunteers and the wonderful staff of the Di Cristina Hospital, in addition to the support of the Command Provincial of the Guardia di Finanza, in the person of General Napolitano, to extend the Oasis up to the terrace, even closer to the patients”, declares Marco Galaverni, Director of Oasis, Education and Activation of WWF Italy.

“Our company ARNAS Civico, in addition to providing highly specialized medical care in various specialist areas, also promotes health: primarily that of children, but also of their families and medical and paramedical staff. The WWF Oasis in our hospital will be a tool capable of creating harmony, promoting the health of employees, children and adults. Contact with nature will help us in the delicate task of trying to keep everyone healthy.” says Walter Messina, Extraordinary Commissioner of Cristina Benfratelli’s ARNAS Civico.

The morning was enlivened by the participation of the band and children’s choir of the Teatro Massimo.

In addition to the Oasis, it was the opportunity to inaugurate a new green terrace inside the structure and located on the second floor, but conceptually connected to the Oasis, created thanks to a donation from the Provincial Command of the Guardia di Finanza of Palermo. which will make contact with nature possible even for young patients with motor disabilities or who, for therapeutic reasons, will not be able to leave the hospital facility.

This inauguration anticipates the Month dedicated to WWF Oases, which from 25 April to 26 May will host over 100 events throughout Italy, and the opening of two other Oases in Hospitals on the national territory.

The benefits of nature

Just a few minutes spent looking at views dominated by trees, flowers or ponds and fountains can help reduce pain, reduce levels of stress, anxiety and anger, acting on blood pressure, muscle tension, heart rate and brain activity . The Oases in the Hospital are a real outdoor laboratory where you can observe, learn about and learn to take care of Nature (in particular small fauna such as pollinating insects and birds), both for moments of relaxation that promote physical-psychological recovery, and to carry out therapeutic activities.

Here are the main objectives of the Oases in the Hospital:

• improve the quality of patients’ stay by involving them in educational, recreational and creative activities linked to the care of ecosystems, guaranteeing positive and psychologically beneficial experiences;
• promote the culture of beauty, respect for nature and biodiversity with the introduction of concepts such as civic and environmental education;
• develop motor skills and cognitive and learning skills, through manual care of the ecosystems present. Learning notions relating to nature will favor an improvement in the cognitive sphere, stimulating concentration, logical skills and memory;
• strengthen self-esteem and positive perception of oneself, through the care of the elements of the Oasis in the Hospital, in seeing the result of one’s attention, knowing that one has made a contribution to improving the health of nature;
• encourage socialization through work even in small groups.

The collaboration between the WWF and the hospital

The initiative also includes the staff training involved in the project by the Education and Training Office of WWF Italy with the participation of the local WWF, which includes teachers from the Schools in Hospital and medical/hospital staff, and which will take place online and in person with the local WWF, available to also support the first phases of training interventions.

The creation of the Oases in the hospital was also possible thanks to the support of: Pediatricians of the Paediatrics Cultural Association (ACP), Pediatricians for a possible world (PuMP) and the Fight the Stroke Foundation. Thanks to the collaboration of a scientific committee, the project received the patronage of Association of Italian Pediatric Hospitals (AOPI).