Mangaluru: How should first responders respond in a disaster? How should dead bodies be gathered from the site of an air crash or a bomb blast such that their identity can be established more quickly and correctly? How should evidence be gathered from a disaster site such that there is no tampering of evidence and the evidence collected is reliable? How should identification be established so that they can be given last rites. The answers to these questions and other related questions regarding disasters and Forensic responsibility can be achieved through Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) training program for forensic experts, dentists and police personnel.
The Forensic Anthropology Unit, Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Yenepoya Medical College, in collaboration with Equipo Argentino de Anthropologia Forensic (EAAF) who are the world leaders in exhumation, identification and respectful return of the dead bodies, a DVI training workshop was imparted to the scholars of Post Graduate Diploma in Forensic Anthropology who are pursuing the course from different parts of India.A mock scene of a fire in a hotel was reconstructed along with a disaster scene with few dismembered dolls as dead bodies was created.
The PG Diploma in Forensic Anthropology is the first of its kind course in India, an offering from Department of Forensic Medicine and this is the 8th year of the course. Every year upto 15 experts are trained from the background of Forensic Medicine, Anatomy and Dentistry. This is one example of encouraging lifelong learning by the University, where motivation to learn and acquire newer skills that become a necessity in the changing world is facilitated. The DVI module is a 4-day module at the end of which the scholar will be competent in the steps of DVI applied in a given setting.
This year Dr Tania Delabarde from EAAF Argentina, presently working in Forensic Institute in Paris is the chief resource person. She brings a rich experience of having handled many disasters. Dr Vina Vaswani is the Course Director. Dr Leena Pramod is the Course Coordinator and Dr Nasir Ahemad is the Forensic Anthropologist who facilitated the team learning. Dr Shah Nawaz Manipady, Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences was the invited observer and he was felicitated by Dr Kishor Kumar B, Professor and Head, Department of Forensic Medicine.
For more details about the course, interested persons can contact Dr Nasir Ahmad, Forensic Anthropologist cell; 9406532084
