Octávio Lobo Hospital's Summer Camp Ensures Playful Immersion in the Amazon Rainforest
Creative workshops and costumed characters helped bring knowledge and lightness to patients, stimulating sociability and creative imagination
From July 1 to 11, the Octávio Lobo Children's Oncology Hospital (Hoiol) held another edition of the summer camp themed "A Journey through the Amazon." The project transformed the playroom into an immersive space, where workshops on canvas painting, making animals with modeling clay, paper cutting with carmine, and a gastronomic experience with regional flavors, under the guidance of chef Paulo Freitas, were conducted. The entire environment was designed to convey knowledge in a playful manner; among brushes and modeling clays, the children learned about the flora, fauna, and the importance of preserving the world's largest tropical rainforest.
For Katiane Alves, from the humanization team, the idea was precisely to recreate experiences that these children would have outside the hospital. "Our motivation was to bring experiences they could have outside into the hospital environment, with fun and knowledge. We also took advantage of the proximity to the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30) to work on environmental themes, using our forest as inspiration," she explained.
The activities were planned by multidisciplinary teams from the hospital, with support from the volunteer group MOVA, which stands for "Moved by Love." Elana Patrícia da Silva, a member of the group, shared that the moment is always highly anticipated by everyone. "We brought canvas painting, storytelling, music. It’s a joyful moment, filled with affection. We make a point of participating every year," she said.
A preliminary screening is conducted by the nursing team to ensure the safety of each patient. Only those who are clinically cleared can participate. The environment is adapted for patients who require more specific care. The tables are set up close to equipment, so that there is no interruption of medications, for example.
A breath of fresh air amidst treatment - For Jainy Matias, mother of 7-year-old Arnaud, the experience was a relief while waiting for a diagnosis. "I think it’s very important. When a child spends a lot of time in the hospital, they start to feel lonely, isolated. Arnaud loves to play, run, but here he can’t do all that. So these activities help a lot. He wakes up asking when he will return to the playroom," Jainy shared, who came from Canaã dos Carajás, in the southeast of the state, with her son, still under investigation for lymphoma diagnosis.
Play therapist from the humanization team, Jucinara Gaia highlights the transformative power of these actions. "It was a way to raise awareness about the Amazon, about endangered animals, but also to respond to their curiosities. It’s a work that distracts and makes them forget a little about the hospital environment and live their childhood, even if they are hospitalized," she emphasized.
The Summer Camp is part of Hoiol's Humanization Program, which has been investing in playful activities for years to make the treatment routine lighter. For mothers like Jainy, every smile from her son matters. "We manage, in some way, to alleviate the stress of hospitalization, take the focus off the heavy treatment, and bring joy. And that makes all the difference. It’s very good to see my son excited again. We forget a little about the disease, at least for a few hours."
Service: Accredited as a High Complexity Unit in Oncology, the Octávio Lobo Children's Oncology Hospital is a reference in the Amazon region for the diagnosis and specialized treatment of childhood and adolescent cancer, for ages 0 to 19 years old. The unit is managed by the Instituto Diretrizes (ID), under a management contract with the State Department of Public Health (Sespa), and serves patients from the 144 municipalities of Pará.
