Feature

RFST programme of CMC

Md. Jamal Uddin Tanin

It was really an unusual experience full of joy, excitement and fun. Especially when most of us were getting bored with all the complicated and some times unexplainably irritating medical classes and exams! I am talking about the 'Residential Field Site Training' (RFST) programme of Chittagong Medical College (CMC) that was held recently.

RFST is the routine tour of all the fourth year medical students and is a research work for observing the health care delivery system of the country from a very close proximity. We completed research projects titled 'A study on knowledge, attitude and practice of contraceptive methods in women of child bearing age' and 'A study on completion of five doses of Tetanus Toxoides in women of child bearing age'.

During the first day there were few classes on how to do a successful research. Our teachers properly guided us on how to make questions, research protocols and the proper method of research to find out positive results.

The next day we had a visit to BGC trust Medical College to see how the non government medicals are working and it was really amazing to find such an infrastructure in a remote rural area of Bangladesh. From there we went to Cox's Bazaar, the obvious and proud contender of natural seven wonders and rediscovered the beauty and its cause for being such a strong contender.

The next day we went to the Upazilla Health and Family Welfare Complex, Mirsharai. We stayed there for two days in a boarding house specially made for the RFST researchers. Not only in the health complex but also in the nearby village, Temuhoni we found the rural people to be very warm hearted and welcoming. Their cooperation really helped us to finish the field portion of the research properly. For some students it was their first step in a village. In the health complex we found the doctors and all the staff giving their level best treatment and care irrespective of resource and man power. After lunch we visited the “Muhuri project”.

Near the boarding there was a nice pond and we all used to gossip on the bank during free time and I will never forget all of us singing together amidst the heavy shower while our teacher was asleep one night. On the way back, we went to Sitakundu Eco Park. As the rain continued we took the risk of going under the fall passing over a muddy, slippery hill full of insects. We also crossed a canal which was chest-high deep and having very strong currents.

The next day we visited the KAFCO (Karnafuli Fertilizer Company) factory. It was nice to see the authorities supplying full medical facilities free of cost to the employees. From KAFCO we went to the Parki Beach, Anwara. There was a lot of fun as we found the beach quite empty due to the rain but in fact it was the rain that enhanced our amusement along with the roaring sea.

The following days we visited a rehabilitation centre for the drug addicts and an NGO working against AIDS. It was really heart breaking to know how alarmingly drug addiction is spreading in all kinds of people regardless of age, sex, education or social status. But the story of success after proper treatment kindled the light of hope in our heart.

We also visited the factory of Glaxo Smith Kline and also Nutritional Block and DOTs corner (TB and Leprosy control programme) in CMCH. Then, in the last two days, we compiled all our reports on visits and finally submitted the research paper and at last we presented and defended the total research in front of our teachers of community medicine department of our college.

(Tanin is an MBBS student, Chittagong Medical College.
tanincmc@yahoo.com)