Georgia Balfour, portfolio manager at Cari-Med Group Limited, shares a warm moment with little Javoury Richardson and golden retriever ‘Dr Teddy Barks’, a therapy dog at Bustamante Hospital for Children during a function on May 30 to mark the first anniversary of the Animal Assisted Recovery Care programme. The Purina brand, distributed by Cari-Med, has become a major sponsor, ensuring food supplies for Dr Teddy and the other therapy animals.

Dr Teddy was introduced as the brand ambassador and main therapy animal for the project when the pilot was launched in November 2022.

At the time, Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton explained in a statement in Parliament that the project is designed to “reduce the anxiety and stress associated with hospitalisation, reduce the length of hospitalisation, reduce the need for pharmacological intervention and improve the social environment for healthcare delivery”.

He said that Animal Assisted Interventions, a goal-oriented and structured intervention that intentionally includes or incorporates animals in health for therapeutic gains for humans, are recognised globally as having widespread benefits for both patients and healthcare staff.

Dr Tufton also explained that the hospital has in place established infection, prevention and control protocols and the project will be implemented in keeping with those protocols.

“In the event that there is increased admissions of children, overcrowding and/or an outbreak of a communicable disease, implementation will be suspended,” Tufton said.

(Photo: Garfield Robinson)