A tribute to entry batch ’64 Obstetricians
In the four corners of world, thousands of babies are born
Many Obstetricians, attending are of Sri Lankan origin
The tribute below is for a special group of our skilled mates
The healers par excellence, from the ’64 entry batch, renown
In the four corners of world, thousands of babies are born
Many Obstetricians, attending are of Sri Lankan origin
The tribute below is for a special group of our skilled mates
The healers par excellence, from the ’64 entry batch, renown
Lankan doctors are a special clan
Right on time as sent by a force divine
They appear on the scene
Deliver the precious baby and relieve pain
Our mates loving care and the tender touch
To the mum and baby is meant so much
Hubby and the rest on the corridor waiting
Their anxieties gone as the ‘Doc’ is at hand
‘Congratulations you got a beautiful baby’
With a smile, tell the mum & the anxious daddy
You are not bent to earn too much money
Always the motive is to deliver normally
To you there’s no difference whether day or night
Sharp on time arrive with a benevolent heart
A saviour you are the nation should bow
The Obstetrician a ministering angel thou!
Ariya
News, Views and More from Batch'64, Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, SriLanka 
Thanks Ariya.
I remember one who taught them all
When doing VEs he had a ball;
So even on hospital corridors walking
He had two fingers forward pointing!
Narme
LikeLike
My dear Narme,
Thank you for taking me back to good old, Kurunegala days
My then boss, Dr Jinatissa Herat’s two fingers were famous
His friendly other consultant colleagues teased him always
Even in sleep his right index & middle fingers were held up
Ariya
LikeLike
I remember Dr Herat very well. He used to be a chain smoker of dual category during ward rounds, Pipe and Cigarettes!
Sam
LikeLike
Thanks Ariya for your presentation on contributions made by Obstetricians of the batch. I being an Obstetric Anaesthetist I work alongside them everyday and they do a wonderful job . Once an Obstetrician told me that they can do their job most of the time without us, Anaesthetists, but when we need you, we need you in a flash !
Srilankas health services can be proud of their achievements in reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to 32 per 100,000 live births (best figures in Asia I believe) while even the closest ,more developed neighbour, India stands at 174. Field midwifery services in Srilanka deserves a lot more credit than they get.
I find it rather interesting that most developed countries have been able to decrease their MMR to single figures while USA surprisingly showing an upward trend over the last decade or so !
LikeLike
My dear Abey,
Now that you mentioned about Obstetric Anaesthetics
I do remember you were a registrar in a UK hospital at Watford
During the days when epidurals were introduced for Obstetrics
You taught me the technique while I was doing an Obs. house job
At that stage and even now am greatly impressed by your skill
Learning it from a master, to an Obstetric bloke was a great thrill
There is a fortunate story behind that to all batch mates must tell
My boss Mr Tipton pioneered Obs. use UK, anaesthesia epidural
As it was a new concept to widen the knowledge and reduce fears
Among the public, especially for expectant mothers & their hubbies
An informative programme was launched by BBC television, News
Aptly supported by our Obstetric dept as a pioneer by my then boss
Patient consented News crew recording introduction was given
Appealed for a volunteer as agreed Dr became nervous & ‘frozen’
‘Narigama kolla’ from Abey, already has had a thorough training
Performed a mock epidural via the ‘TV camera’ to the British nation
In the United Kingdom everyone did witness in evening news
A Sri Lankan demolished fears of the masses over epidural Obs.
Thanks to Abey for a brief second or two, I too became ‘ famous’
Of course my boss, the Obstetric team Watford got major honours
Ariya’ s pleasant memories
LikeLike
Thanks Ariya for your kind words. I do remember the Watford days and the 2 OB consultants, Drs Tipton & Lewis.
LikeLike
Hi Ariya, I am told that the mark of a good obstetrician is “ masterly inactivity”. quote is from Practical Obstetrics by Ian Donald.I am pretty sure that times have changed and the mother ( patient) , calls the shots and also in the hands of the LMC( midwife).I worked under an Obstetrician who used mega doses of Synto in the late sixties and delivered babies at times requested by the parents to produce good horoscopes.!! Clinically he was ahead of the times but equally his assessments were perfect.A memorable obstetrician in deed.Eddie.
LikeLike
My dear Eddie,
None of the stories connected to horoscopes
Got anything to do with ’64 Obstetrics mates
They all had been upright, committed healers
Set good examples to follow to other doctors
Ariya
LikeLike
My 2 cents worth:- I did O&G at the Wellington hospital as a House-man for 4 months. As a houseman I was expected to be the ist to run from the quartes in the nights & deliver the baby, but most of the time, before I could reach the labour room, the mid-wife has already delivered the baby !!! sometimes, even the episiotomy!! I will be there on time to to stich it up . Registrar comes later if needed. Obstetrician may visit if there are any problems – otherwise he will have a good sleep. (My O&G mates:- No offence please)
LikeLike
Thanks my dear Seelan
Your two cents in my book is worth a million
I am sure many mates are enjoying your writing
The proof of the pudding is in eating
Not sure why some are only reading but not writing
Ariya
LikeLike
Ariya,
God Bless You for singing the praise of Obstetricians!!!. Rest of these folks don’t know what a hard life we lead!!, how much we get battered, in spite of good work. Comments of Eddie, Abey, Seelan, Sam & Narme are great. Thank you for keeping our “Flag Flying!”.
WIMAL FERNANDO.
LikeLike
Ariya,
Ob/ Gyn guys from our batch are: Anaimugam, Almeda Indrajee Amare, Ariya , Cletus Fernando, Wimal Fernando, Bunty Kurukulasuriya, Rahulatharan, Mahilal Ratnapala , I might be missing a few guys. Not bad!!.
WIMAL.
LikeLike
Sorry Wimal,
You have included Bunty in the list.
Old age is catching up with me
Ariya
LikeLike
Thanks for the list nearly complete & ommissions are few
Ommissions are Bunty, Rasiah, Gaspar, Rajseh & winceslaw
Ariya
LikeLike
In my old age the eyes failing for that sorry
Wimal included in list Bunty, our late buddy
Errors or no errors, need is to share the curry
So dear pals we love to here everyone’s story
Ariya
LikeLike
George and Soma to my memory too did post grad. in O & G
Later opted and developed a good career in general practice
Rajesh I have a vague memory Deepthie will correct me this
Common mates we need help please join & complete the list
Ariya
LikeLike
My dear Eddie,
I wrote about Obstetricians from the ’64 entry batch
Sure none of them guilty of the crimes, to you latch
They followed Obstetrics rule book, up to the letter
Join me in earnest applaud work of your mates
LikeLike
Thanks Ariya.The comment was not a slur on any obstetrician or any of our colleagues.I was just commenting on the practice and the part Obstetricians played in society and in the life of the patient.I had great respect for the consultant as he had excellent clinical skills.Obstetricians are special as they take care of two persons each time.( mother and child),and sometimes more!!.Twins,and many more rarely.Eddie.
LikeLike
Dear Ariya, you have include Lakshman Senanayaka in the list of Obs.&Gyn. Specialists.
LikeLike
Dear Indragee,
Thank you for reminding, Lakshman the Obstetrician
Whose contributions to Lanka makes him a great man
Still working, non-stop to uplift country’s down trodden
He is the pride of our batch, and the boon for the nation
Ariya
LikeLike