In Egypt, where families are large and close, hordes of visitors come to the hospital every day, many of them illiterate. Families play a crucial part in the treatment of patients, and the volunteers operate a comprehensive information service at the entrance to guide and reassure visitors, which relieves the staff of a great deal of pressure. They operate as runners too, carrying materials of all kinds around the hospital, but their most visible function is in the large children's wing. At this hospital the mothers live in with their children, and cook and care for them. But they need help to know what to cook, how to cook it, and what to expect from children undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.
Volunteers train specially to perform that function.
Others play with the children. I was very impressed. In fact, if the volunteers were to suddenly disappear, it is hard to see how the hospital could continue without them. Reprinted with permission from Ted Simon.