SUN hosts Medical Clowning session for Medical Students and terminally-ill children

Mar 19, 2024 - 15:51 Updated: Mar 19, 2024 - 15:53

SUN hosts Medical Clowning session for Medical Students and terminally-ill children

The management of Skyline University Nigeria (SUN) has hosted a medical clowning session for the medical students at the university’s ultra-modern common room. The event was conducted to expose the students to the need to care for terminally ill patients.

Mr. Anantram Ganapati and Dr. Meenakshi Anantram, widely acknowledged medical clowns in India, shared their experiences with medical clowning and its need in especially developing countries like Nigeria. They both admitted that it was an initiative they started fully after losing their teenage son to cancer. Hence, they took the initiative to soothe cancer patients through clowning.

In his opening remarks, the Dean of the School of Basic Medical Sciences (SBMS), Dr. Isa Usman Lawal and a physiotherapist said the medical field allows the opportunity for youth to contribute immensely to societal health. He said the feeling of relief by the patients through palliatives is exceptional and reassuring, which is much needed in the country.

Mr. Ganapati stated that the idea for the session hosted by SUN is to inspire students to become volunteers who will participate in creating awareness about the need for medical clowning. Similarly, his wife, Dr. Anantram, explained that they hope the session will have a lasting impact on the medical students at the university.

After the campus session, the Dean, Mr. Ganapati, Dr. Anantram and students visited Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) for a medical clowning session with patients at the pediatric oncology ward. The medical clowns expressed their satisfaction with the session. They also networked with nurses and doctors in the hospital and hoped to see medical workshops done for the students.