Voluntary initiative gives new life to Mt Carmel’s common room

A common room and dining area at one of the female wards of Mount Carmel Hospital were given new life following the intervention of a number of volunteers led by Michelle Muscat, the Prime Minister's wife.

The refurbishment of the rooms included plastering, wall painting and the donations of sofas, tables and chairs and curtains.

Pictures of the original state of the rooms revealed that, while kept clean, they were in a state of neglect with torn sofas, window blinds covered in mold and painting coming off the walls.

Accompanied by a number of ministers' wives and women who work within the various ministries, Muscat said she wanted to make good use of her position by pushing forward initiatives which serve to help others.

"When we are taken around to visit these places, we are always shown the new parts where everything is in good state and the environment is lively. But when you look beyond you see that not everywhere is like that," Muscat said.

She said, that after seeing for her eyes the state the rooms where in and after receiving a number of emails from relatives of residents at Mount Carmel Hospital, she decided to bring together a group of people to help.

Helpers spent the week at the mental health hospital overseeing the works while the walls were being repainted, curtains sown and new furniture brought in.

Muscat added that this would not be the first and last initiative to take place at Mt Carmel Hospital. She also organised lunch at Mt Carmel, where participants paid a small donation of €20 each to eat from the hospital's kitchen. Proceeds would go to buy heaters and blankets.

She insisted that every little help counted, when asked why volunteers and donations were needed to help with the upkeeping of the state-run hospital.

"Funds were not being spent according to priority and the new administration has inherited a hospital with problems. Right now, every little help counts and if we can do something to make the residents' lives better, why shouldn't we?" Muscat said.