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Look: How this UAE hospital is bringing colour and hope to children's cancer unit
'Colours of Hope' project aims to brighten the treatment journey of young patients by surrounding them with images that spark imagination and build hope
- PUBLISHED: Fri 25 Jul 2025, 8:52 PM
Yas Clinic Hospital and the Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre (ADSCC) have turned the walls of their pediatric Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit into a series of cheerful murals as part of a new initiative called 'Colours of Hope.'
The project aims to brighten the treatment journey of young patients by surrounding them with images that spark imagination and build hope. It was launched under the UAE’s Year of Community campaign and painted by Mariam AlHarthi, an Emirati artist and Yas Clinic employee.
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One wall features cartoon-style drawings of frontline workers standing beneath a falcon. Another shows a young Emirati boy and girl wandering through a desert and coming across a treasure chest near a watchtower and palm trees. A third painting shows two gazelles.
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According to a press release issued by ADSCC, the murals reflect themes of discovery, strength, and national pride, helping children imagine a future beyond illness.
“Every colour that brightens the walls of our pediatric bone marrow transplant unit reflects a powerful strength I witness daily in our young patients and in our medical team at Yas Clinic Hospital and Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Centre,” said Dr Fatema Al Kaabi, executive director of the Bone Marrow Transplant Programme. “My ongoing wish is that these vibrant paintings breathe new hope into children as they go through their treatment. Through art and imagination, we strengthen each child’s resolve and celebrate a unique journey toward healing.”
Dr. Mansi Sachdev, consultant in Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Bone Marrow Transplant, added: “When a child enters the bone marrow transplant unit, the road ahead can seem so long and difficult. My hope is that, through ‘Colours of Hope,’ every child and their family finds in these paintings a source of happiness, strength, and inspiration.
"These aren’t just images on walls, they tell a story of renewed potential, opening a door to laughter and light even in the hardest times. We are here to heal their bodies, and with compassion and creativity, we care for their spirits as well.”
ADSCC said the project is part of its ongoing effort to make the healing environment more child-friendly and emotionally supportive for both patients and their families.
