Sponsor a student

In Sri Lanka, where I went to medical school, as in other developing countries, there are many medical students who are bright but whose parents cannot afford to pay for their university education. The education system in Sri Lanka has been free since Sri Lankan independence from British rule in 1948. Despite this, students from poorer families face difficulties.

A large number of these students are from rural areas. The living expenses are high in the cities and the medical textbooks expensive. Medical school libraries are usually small with only a few copies of each textbook available, limited to overnight borrowing. During my medical school days, we studied from notes we took down during lectures and depended on the cheap editions of medical books from the English Language Book Society. These were subsidised by the British government, via the British Council, but are no longer available due to cutbacks in overseas funding.

At a medical school reunion in Colombo, someone proposed that each one of us should "adopt" a medical student and support them through their study. Out of our year of 150 medical students, more than 100 were practicing overseas, mostly in the United States; others were in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. A few pounds or dollars converted into Sri Lankan rupees sent on a regular basis would be sufficient to support a medical student through medical school.

Choosing a medical student was the hardest part. The faculty of medicine in Colombo was aware of the problems facing poorer medical students and assessed their individual needs. I contacted the dean of the medical faculty and was put in touch with my protégé. I wrote to him and met him informally to make sure my choice of person was right and that my money was going to be used for what it was intended. I then arranged for sufficient money for his basic needs by sending him a cheque on a regular basis. My only condition was that he should keep in touch with me regularly by mail.

I made it a point to meet him on my regular visits to Sri Lanka. I discussed his needs, encouraged him, and talked to him about my experiences as a doctor working overseas. When I visited, I brought him textbooks and a stethoscope-he always appreciated the gifts and the regular cheques.

I am glad to say that he qualified as a doctor with flying colours last year. I keep in touch with him but not as much as I would like to, as I do not want to appear to be a patronising figure in the background. I hope he in turn will support a poorer medical student one day.

The whole experience was extremely fulfilling, so I supported another student. The lecturer in charge of student welfare sent me the CV of two students who were equally needy, promising, and deserving. The decision to support them both was automatic. If I chose one above the other, I would have discriminated against one person, a concept that I abhor. With two medical students to support, I hope to get twice the joy.

Perhaps if doctors all over the world-with a few pounds, dollars, or rupees to spare per month-support a medical student, a large number of students will be relieved of the financial worries that add to the burden of students in developing countries.