'Health is wealth'

MedEx 2008- revived after 26 years: the exhibition of the decade:

by Rosanne Koelmeyer Anderson

[email protected]

A demonstration at the Forensic medicine stall.

An operating theatre setting an demonstration on the use of theatre equipment.

Matters relating to Neurological problems being explained.

The implications of suicide.

Spreading across the vast length and breadth of the BMICH commencing March 26 ending April 1, after a lapse of 26 years sans exhibitions, MedEx 2008 the Colombo Medical Exhibition and brainchild of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Colombo which could be pertinently described as 'The exhibition of the decade', a trend setter, a shift from the conventional 'show and tell' concept of learning to active participation and interactive learning attracting over one hundred thousand visitors each day, from all walks of life.

A forum and exhibition with a difference comprising 320 stalls, MedEx 2008 has been designed mainly to broaden the horizons of students, undergrads, healthcare professionals and educationists and create an utmost effectual awareness and understanding among others about their anatomy while presenting an insight into the actual functioning of each system; a novel experience with practical sessions as in reality situations.; an innovative effort on the part of the Medical Faculty: Seeing is believing.

For those of you who possess the latest phone technology, 3G phones Mobitel is web casting the exhibition so you could see what is happening from right where you are, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. while MedTV will simultaneously run a TV station with question - answer sessions throughout the day where the public could relieve themselves of their anxieties at the 'one stop shop' with free medical advise at your service.

An in depth insight into anatomy, illnesses and problems relating to each system be it Cardiology, the Muscular Skeletal System, Neurological problems or Nephrology to name a few they are on display with the medical experts there to present to you a detailed understanding of the body, how to identify diseases and the treatment options available.

True to life Operating Theatre settings too have been arranged with presentations of how a person is anesthetized, how equipment is used and the responsibilities of each and every member of the team operating at a given time.

Interested in reproductive health, details from pregnancy up to the point of delivery and the actual delivery and even the Caesarian section is shown while a special area adjoining this has been dedicated to Sexually Transmitted Diseases(STD) and HIV. A clinic too has been set up here where anyone seeking advise could talk to a specialist.

Moving on to other areas of interest was the section on cancers, the emerging disease. Specimens of humans were available; you could really see how tumours occur while the area demonstrating blood related issues gave the visitor an in depth idea of blood grouping and blood related diseases while a blood donation campaign was in progress as a demonstrative technique.

Dummies and specimens relating to the Respiratory system were also interesting while live discussions were also going on simultaneously at a Committee Room of the BMICH in a consorted effort to raise awareness on yet another highly susceptible problem.

Many mothers were seen crowding around the Pediatric section probably hoping to find answers to common problems like how to feed a child which is by and large a common hue and cry, how to read a child's health record, how to handle pediatric diseases and handle problems relating to children.

Explanation of problems relating to ENT disorders.

The ENT section too was vast, detailed and descriptive too and focused on how to deal with common problems while the Forensic medicine section dealt with how to preserve a crime sight, determine time of death, instances of child abuse and suicide. A section was also set apart for problems relating to mental health and how to treat and look after such patients, spanning a wide spectrum of medical issues.

And to add colour to the action at MedEx 2008 was the Mobile Accident Service with practical sessions in progress and demonstration of basic resuscitation techniques, how to transport a patient carefully in the event of an accident or bomb blast with hands on experience at hand.

Thus, all in all MedEx 2008 was yet another milestone and honour to the medical fraternity of Sri Lanka and a conscious effort of the Medical Faculty of the Colombo University to bring about an evolution in the healthcare system in Sri Lanka.

ENT related problems being discussed.