"Disease & Medication" temporary exhibition held in Egypt's Museum of Islamic Art

CAIRO – 26 November 2020: The Museum of Islamic Art in Bab Al-Khalq is holding a temporary archaeological exhibition called "Disease and Medication", throughout the month of December.

Head of the Museums Sector Moamen Othman, , explained that this exhibition was created for an educational purpose in line with the current events to confront COVID-19.

The exhibition includes a group of 50 artifacts illustrating medical and surgical tools from the Islamic civilization, in addition to hygiene and alternative medicine tools such as a group of “khudah” bowls from different Islamic eras, and some pitchers and bowls from the Mamluk era.

General Director of the Museum of Islamic Art Mamdouh Othman said that the medical sciences flourished during Islamic history, as doctors were distinguished, hospitals were advanced, and the Islamic faith always encouraged cleanliness, which made it easy for the body to protect itself from various diseases.

He added that, on the sidelines of the exhibition, a number of cultural, educational and awareness-raising activities will be organized, such as organizing another exhibition of plastic art and photographs; artistic workshops to teach children to draw motifs inspired by artifacts in the museum and draw them on face masks, and an interactive artistic presentation will be organized in coordination with the museum about COVID-19 and ways to prevent it.

That is in addition to methods of safe disposal of facemasks and gloves, recycling and use of empty medicine bottles, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment.

Othman indicated that for the first time, a medical caravan will be organized in cooperation with the Trade Union Committee for Antiquities Workers to serve workers and museum visitors.