The air we breathe: is it safe for children?

Abstract

College Hospital London two years later, where he completed his studies. He was appointed the first Professor of Paediatrics in this country in 1949. He occupied the chair in Paediatrics in Colombo until his retirement in 1966. During this period his untiring efforts obtained ‘swaraj ’ for Paediatrics in the hospital sector as well as within the university system. As a researcher, Prof. C. C. was the first Ceylonese to publish in the British Quarterly Journal of Medicine and in the same year, 1948, his first article appeared in the British Medical Journal. Professor C. C. was a wide angled clinician with many firsts to his name, such as the first reported case of thalassaemia and of kwashiorkor in this country. This list is long. Professor C. C, the social worker, helped found the Thalagolle Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre and was a staunch activist in family planning work in the 1950’s. His writing skills unfold in two book-length biographical style writings “Out Steppes a Don ” and “Life as I lived it”. As an educationalist Professor C.C. de Silva had a vision way ahead of his times. This is evident in his farewell lecture entitled “What’s wrong with you and me” delivered to medical students of both Colombo and Peradeniya. Referring to the then pass rate of 28 % at the ‘Finals’, Professor C. C. de Silva recommended introducing continuous assessment, small group discussions and limiting lecture hours to enable more time in the wards. It was only in 1994 that the Faculty in Colombo implemented these across the board. The pass rate at the finals is now over 95%. I belong to a generation that went through medical school after the retirement of Professor C. C. de Silva. What link I may claim to his teachings and endeavours are those that percolated through the first group of medical students who came under his tutelage. It was to the ‘batch of 1950 ’ that Professor