Dedication Ceremony

The 13th Dedication Ceremony organised by the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy was conducted by the Reverend Father Merlin Ince of Saint Anne?’s Church on 27 January.

The Ceremony encourages students not only to respect the human body, but also to show appreciation to community members who donate their bodies. The cadavers are used in the training of medical students.

The dedication ceremony was initiated by Professor GHM Vawda in 1994. In his speech, Professor Vawda said that the knowledge and hands-on experience gained in the dissection hall has elevated the Nelson R Mandela School of Medical to international acclaim.

Dr A Sewlal from the KwaZulu-Natal Health Ministry endorsed the need for medical students to be torch bearers. ?“We have an army of committed people who fight to restore the dignity of all citizens?”, he said. Dr Sewlal said that medical students should pledge themselves to the service of humanity.

In a moving speech, Professor E Mhlanga from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology high-lighted the link between his Department and anatomy. ?“We see life at its beginning and anatomy is the end of life. In death lies the answers to life.?” He urged students to treat cadavers with the utmost respect and never lose their sensitivity: ?“If you lose your sensitivity, you loose your humanity and you loose your soul. Be able to comfort those in need.?”

Professor MR Haffajee of the Discipline of Clinical Anatomy re-minded the students that ?“the cadavers are very much alive in the minds of relatives and loved ones?”. The cadavers are the first of many great teachers and must be respected according to the dissector?’s religious, cultural and spiritual code.