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Enthralling learning experience for all

by Rikaza Hassan

The medical faculty of the prestigious Ruhunu University is situated in Karapitiya, a few kilometres off the town of Galle. Founded on the 1st of September 1980, it celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, when an idea of hosting a medical exhibition in its commemoration was born.

"We have grown from a small faculty to the point of being able to admit 130 students each year," said Dr. Saman Wimalasundara, a Senior Lecturer in Community Medicine and co-chairperson of the organising committee. "The second purpose of hosting this exhibition was to improve the knowledge of the public in the area of health. If the public is aware, this will help improve the health of the nation as a whole," he added further.

Student Union President and at the helm of the organising committee, Suresh De Silva also said that they wished to "make new relationships with the people." According to him, "the general public has a very negative opinion when it comes to a university student. We wanted to change this and show them that we are here to serve the country and not to harm it."

As we arrived at the medical faculty, circumnavigated the queued crowds and introduced ourselves, an energetic doctor-to-be was offered to us to be our guide around the buildings.

Kaluarachchi first guided us to the sex education stall where school kids only above 12 years of age were admitted and stood transfixed, as young men and women of the faculty held up lateral-sections and parts of reproductive systems of the male and female cadavers.

As the smell of formalin transported me back to the biology laboratory back in school, I took in the boards hung on the walls explaining everything from puberty, adolescence to the functions of the reproductive systems of the two sexes. It was indeed a commendable idea to help these confused teenagers understand their bodies, when such important lessons are usually skipped by some teachers at school.

We next jostled through the crowds to arrive at the forensics medicine stall titled quite aptly, 'Beyond Death' - where an enthusiastic Dr. Vidanapathirana, Senior Lecturer, Head of the Forensics Medicine Department and Specialist Judicial Medical Officer (J.M.O.) escorted us throughout the entire range of exhibits. "There are three factors which make up the basis of forensics," he explained. "They are the making of laws, the breaking of laws and punishments."

The exhibits began with injuries to the human bodies from contusions, abrasions, lacerations in various cases of murder, suicide and such. Every exhibit of blunt force trauma to the head included the skull in question, the brain in question and a thorough yet brief explanation of the case and the means of identifying the weapon used. Also used in the explanation of injuries were colour photographs and other specimens of evidence.

One of the most disturbing exhibits was that of aborted fetuses that were displayed in formalin filled glass bottles. My ignorance in the subject was swept away when I was presented with the tray of instruments that are used for illegal abortions in Sri Lanka: from glass rods to your everyday pencil and plastic insulated wire.

Fetuses from 2 cm (1 month) to even 18cm (6 months) that were unsuccessfully aborted and resulted in the mothers' deaths, still within the safety of the uterus, floated in thick glassed jars.

Next on the list were cases of child abuse including those that resulted in the death of the child. From burn injuries to swollen knees and fractures, pictures depicted what words explained to be mostly caused by parents themselves.

Also were more glass jars where new-born babies now rested after succumbing to the ill treatment of a parent, perhaps a mother suffering from post-natal depression, perhaps an unwilling father who lost his nerve.

We moved on to burns with specimens of those caused by electrocution, the firm pattern of a person struck by lightning and the four degrees of burning due to the common cause of fire. Finally we came to terrorism with various cases of bomb explosions examined, as well as an exhibit constructed by two students showing the four stages of a bomb explosion.

And finally the tsunami caused disaster of 2004 which showed exhumations, DNA analysis and post mortem deliveries.

Thanking Dr. Vidanapathirana profusely for spending such a large amount of his time with us, we made our way to the little room which showcased the exhibits of the Police College in Kalutara. Among the many curiosities was the gun used by Saradiel to shoot P.C. Saban over a woman in the first ever murder of a police officer in Sri Lanka in 1864.

Among a display of ancient pistols and other firearms was a walking stick owned by an Englishman, that could shoot, and the instrument used to kill cattle during the time before independence.

The Pathology exhibit concentrated on the malignancy of cancer, most commonly identified in the districts of Colombo, Kandy and Galle.

It told the story of the beginning of cancer to its development, until the demise of the patient of cancers of the breast the most common cancer affecting women in Sri Lankan and the world, the lung, the larynx, the oesophagus, the thyroid, the cervix and other cancers common in this country. Each cancer highlighted also showcased a specimen of the affected organ that gave more insight into the deterioration caused by the disease and encouraging the visitor to look after himself better.

The Surgery stall began with information on the most common ailments that require surgery as an actual surgery played on a screen, while simultaneously explained in Sinhalese by a student. The exhibit detailed pre-operative care before moving on to a demonstration of a surgery in a theatre to get rid of people's fear and show them that there is nothing to be afraid of in here, and ending with post-operative care.

Also were demonstrations of newer technology such as endoscopy, where a tube is inserted via the upper or lower gastro-intestinal system to check for abnormalities, without resorting to surgery and laparoscopy surgery, using just three small incisions for a camera and the surgeon's instruments doing away with the many complications that would otherwise entail.

Occupational Health and Community Medicine informed the public as well as answered their queries about everything that is a part of a person's daily life. From nutrition in today's lifestyle to tips on changing for the better, career and education related stress, the lack of exercise and common ailments were addressed.

The Pharmacology booth was especially helpful as it reviewed common over the counter drugs such as paracetamol, indigestion concoctions, worm medicine and cough suppressants. The SPC stall showcased the 55 medicines that it produces and the generic names of drugs, helping us save some cash rather than paying for the brand name as well.

The stall on Pregnancy and Motherhood clarified the facts behind the beginning of life, dispelling common myths before moving on to the various stages of pregnancy, the delivery and neo-natal care and infancy and childhood. Yet another stand was devoted to old age, covering the diseases that affect the elderly, prevention and cure and means of living a healthier life in old age.

Other sectors illuminated were Common Diseases ailing the organs skin, heart, endocrinal and respiratory systems, contagious and sexually transmitted disease; Psychiatry which dealt with depression and other mental diseases; Gynaecology which explicated disorders of the female reproductive system; Parasitology which explained epidemic causing diseases in Sri Lanka as well as those foreign to our soil; Anatomy which gave a detailed explanation of every system and important organ in our body with the help of cadavers; and Sports Medicine with the help of fitness equipment enlightened the public of the common injuries that occur. As we walked out of the faculty, exhausted, I felt joyful with all the knowledge that I had garnered during the long hours on my feet.

The exhibition with its real corpses, pictures, medical instruments, information boards, display items and patient medical student explanations was not just an intriguing couple of hours spent to give my editor a story, but an enthralling learning experience.

Not only am I more aware of who I am biologically, more learned of the diseases that may afflict me, but also more knowledgeable of humans as a species.

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