Journey of medical wonder

By Charmaine FERNANDO

The public were taken through a 'journey' of medical wonders at 'VEDASA' Medical Exhibition 2009 held for 6 consecutive days at the BMICH, organised by its students, to commemorate the golden jubilee of the university, which drew in mammoth numbers of school students, university students, graduates, scientists, personnel in health related fields and the general public.

"Sri Jayawardenapura University is celebrating 50 years but we are the youngest Medical Sciences Faculty in the country with a short history of 15 years" said the Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Professor Jayantha Jayawardana, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Sri Jayawardenapura University, "And the objective of this exhibition was to educate school children and the public on common medical issues enhancing their knowledge levels on the causes and to address valuable issues on prevention through interesting and effective methods".

"The student centered exhibition was based on the new curriculum commenced in 2006", said Dr. Chandrini Kariyawasam, Convener of the Medical Exhibition.

Stalls had given a special emphasis on communicable diseases such as filariasis, malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy and the currently prevalent dengue and Chickengunya.

The stalls also depicted the normal and abnormal aspect of the central nervous system, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, renal, reproductive, and special senses of educational value and interest to the student and public.

The students also presented information on mental health, malignancies, orthopaedics and trauma to educate the public on causation and to address methods of prevention.

With the help of epidemiology unit of Sri Lanka the respective control programs were presented on common diseases like diabetes. Supported by the STD/AIDS campaign and Anti Drug Information Centre (ADIC) Anti Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and AIDS, were presented through dramas to effect powerful messages.

The most popular stalls proved to be the one displaying dissected bodies and another related to forensic pathology displaying firearms and bombs. An interesting display of snakes of Sri Lanka too was presented by the nature club of the faculty with the collaboration of the Zoo.

Topics of public interest such as childhood obesity, adolescence and health, Physical Exercise and Health, Occupational Health, Home Accidents, Pets, pests and disease which included the fast spreading Leptospirosis was presented at scheduled times throughout the exhibition and took the form of panel discussions, lectures and film shows.

There were also educational 'street plays' relating to home emergencies and first AID that drew the crowds. The public were also offered the opportunity of health checks for blood pressure, blood sugar, blood group etc;

The theme of the exhibition being 'Vidudaya Nuwanin Heta Dawasak' which spells 'A better tomorrow from knowledge gained at the Vidyodaya' was an absorbing experience to all who visited.