The National Burns Centre (NBC) in Airoli has readied a butterfly garden for its patients to treat them with “distraction therapy”. Sunil Keswani, director of the hospital said that butterflies are beautiful creatures that just flutter around and will help to add a streak of colour to the difficult life of his patients.

Around 75-80 species of butterflies flutter about in the Butterfly Garden which is spread across one acre. It is an artificial habitat having a nectarine and host plants created for butterflies. Navin Vazirani, a butterfly scout and a staff member at the National Burns Centre said that they keep overripe papayas, guavas and pomegranates in a bowl in the garden which acts as a great source of nectar for the butterflies.

The Butterfly garden has been set up to alleviate the suffering of patients with burns who usually go through depression or post-burn psychosis. However, it will be open to them only after the monsoon.

Meanwhile, Dr. Keswani plans to open the garden to school children by July 15 as kids love to chase butterflies. There is also a dual purpose behind this initiative- first, they will teach the children to go green and second, they will be given a small talk on skin donation so that they become aware of organ donation and doing community service.