A theatre waste product is being turned into hospital gowns for sick children in the Philippines thanks to a partnership between The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital and local not-for-profit community organisation Sunshine Linus Inc.
The innovative project has produced more than 850 gowns made from Kimguard, a recyclable product used to wrap sterilised surgical equipment. About 1200 bags of Kimguard are used by the hospital each month.
The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital General Manager, Wallis Westbrook, said members of the hospital team had been informed by volunteer workers who regularly travelled to the Philippines that children often arrived at hospital for treatment and surgery in clothing that did not meet infection control standards or were unsuitable for post surgery recovery.
“Sunshine Linus were able to help solve this problem by designing and making up children’s theatre gowns from used Kimguard that are distributed by a volunteer group who provide medical aid to the Philippines,” Mr Westbrook said.
“Most recipients of the hospital gowns are children who have sustained serious burns in house fires. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in parts of the Philippines due to the fact that many homes are built from bamboo and lit by kerosene lamps,” he said.
The next project for Sunshine Linus is to make a line of carry bags from Kimguard which will be stocked with toiletry items for homeless people across Southeast Queensland and disadvantaged people in remote areas and communities.
The project was the winner of the ‘Environmental Sustainability for the Future’ category in UnitingCare Health’s annual Innovation and Excellence Awards which were held on 30 October.
As part of UnitingCare Health, The Sunshine Coast Private Hospital is a not-for-profit private healthcare provider owned by the Uniting Church.