“More than 200 patients are followed at the Swiss Center for Childhood Liver Diseases. The majority of our children are not from Geneva. Parents must therefore travel to bring their children in control with us.

For most of them, it is essential that they arrive at the hospital by 8:00 am. It is therefore easy to imagine what the time constraints entail: driving for miles to arrive on time, taking into account the large number of traffic jams they will encounter or even taking the train as soon as possible to try. to be on time, with a sick toddler, or even other children to manage. In addition, some patients come for outpatient control, but it also happens that their hospitalizations last from a few days to several months. Here too, we can all project ourselves into the experiences of these parents who wish to stay with their children, alone or with their other children, but who come from far away, sometimes even with a language barrier.

Having accommodation near the hospital, thanks to the APAEG association, is not a luxury but a necessity for these families who, in addition to the emotional difficulties experienced, must manage the logistical and financial aspects to offer their children highly specialized medicine.

Secrétaire du Centre Suisse pour les Maladies du Foie de l'Enfant

Genève