Beyond Medicine: MLD bringing Humanity & Sustainability into Hospital Care for 15 years.
A visit by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco to Nice’s L’Archet II Hospital highlights fifteen years of commitment to children, families and healthcare professionals, demonstrating why healthier lives begin with more human-centred environments.
Sometimes, the greatest impact of healthcare goes beyond medical treatment. It lies in the environment in which patients recover, the presence of loved ones, and the dignity and reassurance that make even the most difficult journeys more bearable.
This vision was at the heart of a special visit on the 28th October 2026, when H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco met the children, families and healthcare teams at L’Archet II Hospital, part of the University Hospital Centre (CHU) of Nice. The occasion marked the fifteenth anniversary of Monaco Liver Disorder (MLD), the Monegasque association founded and chaired by Carla Shechter, whose work has helped transform hospital environments and improve the experience of children facing serious illnesses.
When personal experience becomes collective action.
Founded in 2011, Monaco Liver Disorder emerged from a deeply personal experience. In 2007, when her son was just 18 months old, Carla Shechter faced the distressing reality of having a young child hospitalised. That experience revealed not only the challenges faced by families navigating serious paediatric conditions, but also the essential role of emotional support and a caring hospital environment.
What began as a personal ordeal gradually became a collective commitment: turning vulnerability into solidarity and compassion into tangible action.
Initially focused on children affected by liver diseases, MLD has progressively expanded its activities to support young patients suffering from other serious paediatric conditions. Its work now encompasses medical research, improved hospital facilities, family support and partnerships designed to bring meaningful change to healthcare settings.
Rethinking hospital environments: health is also about well-being.
One of the association’s most significant initiatives has been its programme to improve facilities across three particularly sensitive departments at L’Archet II Hospital: paediatric intensive care, paediatric haematology and oncology, and neonatology.
Developed in close collaboration with hospital professionals, the projects address a fundamental reality: when a child is hospitalised, the entire family is affected.
More welcoming rooms, comfortable facilities allowing parents to remain close to their children, functional equipment and improved working environments for healthcare professionals all contribute to a more supportive model of care.
Importantly, these improvements are designed with attention to hygiene standards, safety, durability and aesthetics. The objective is not simply to modernise hospital infrastructure, but to create spaces that protect dignity, encourage family connections and support the emotional well-being of everyone involved.
This approach also raises a broader question: what does sustainability really mean when human health is at stake?
Environmental sustainability and human well-being are not separate ambitions. They are intrinsically connected. Durable equipment, thoughtfully designed spaces, responsible resource management and healthier environments all contribute to a more sustainable approach to healthcare. Equally, supporting families, protecting the well-being of medical staff and creating conditions that promote recovery are essential dimensions of human sustainability.
A hospital is therefore more than a place where illnesses are treated. It is an ecosystem in which people, resources, care and human relationships must coexist in a balanced and responsible way.
A Princely visit recognising fifteen years of solidarity.
During his visit, Prince Albert II discovered the improvements made possible through MLD’s commitment and the support of its partners. Discussions with the association, CHU Nice management and healthcare professionals highlighted the practical contribution of these initiatives to the daily lives of young patients and their families.
The presence of the Sovereign Prince also acknowledged the importance of cooperation between Monaco and the healthcare institutions of the Alpes-Maritimes region.
Among those attending were Nice Mayor Éric Ciotti, representatives of AMADE and the Monegasque Red Cross, as well as members of the medical and hospital leadership, including CHU Nice Director General Rodolphe Bourret and Professor Jérôme Delotte.
The meeting provided an opportunity to recognise not only the association’s achievements, but also the dedication of the medical and paramedical teams whose work remains essential throughout every stage of a child's treatment.
Fifteen years of generosity, with a vision for the future.
MLD’s activities extend well beyond hospital improvements. Through charity events, sporting initiatives and corporate partnerships, the association has built a network of supporters committed to turning generosity into practical results.
Its initiatives include golf challenges, pétanque gatherings and activities organised with Porsche Club Monaco. These events also create opportunities for young beneficiaries to enjoy memorable experiences, including special driving experiences that offer moments of happiness beyond the daily challenges of illness.
In 2026, the Bâti Golf Challenge raised €30,100, demonstrating the continued commitment of its partners and supporters.
Looking ahead, Monaco Liver Disorder intends to strengthen its work in improving hospital environments, supporting families and encouraging further collaboration around paediatric healthcare.
A more human definition of sustainability.
Fifteen years after its creation, Monaco Liver Disorder offers a compelling reminder that progress in healthcare cannot be measured exclusively through medical innovation or clinical outcomes.
It must also be measured by the quality of the environments in which children receive treatment, the support available to their families, the conditions in which healthcare professionals work and the dignity afforded to every patient.
Because sustainability is ultimately about protecting life in all its dimensions. It means investing not only in medical infrastructures, but also in human relationships, emotional resilience and environments that allow people to live, recover and thrive.
Through its fifteen years of commitment, Monaco Liver Disorder has demonstrated how a personal experience can inspire a wider movement of solidarity — and how even seemingly modest improvements to a hospital room can make an extraordinary difference in someone's life.
Behind every hospital project, there is more than an infrastructure to improve. There is a child to care for, a family to support and a future to protect.
✒️ Maurice Abbati
Strategic Communication Specialist, Editor in Chief, Journalist, Executive.
Lecturer and Author in English in the field of Environmental Communication to foster Circular and Blue Economy
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