The Dirisana+ team envisions the creation of a collaborative environment to share expertise and facilities, and to create sustainability in the use of 3D technology in health sciences education. Many research projects in the Dirisana+ project focused on incorporating electronic devices, applications, simulators, surface scanners and additive manufacturing into teaching and learning. Models are available for purcahse from the University of Pretoria, South Africa, and University of Namibia, Namibia. Download our full available catalogue at the bottom of the page.

Educational anatomy videos

On our official Dirisana+ YouTube channel are various videos for anatomical structures and anatomical dissections by Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences Univeristy and the University of Namibia. Make sure to visit our full channel for more videos.

Interested in creating your own 3D Anatomical Videos? Download our SOP developed by Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences Univerisity below.

3D Surface Scanning for digital model making

3D surface scanning is a completely mobile and non-invase scanning method that can capture the shape and texture of objects in three dimensions. Throughout the Dirisana+ grant, both the University of Pretoria and University of Namibia acquired a handheld 3D surface scanner to help create digitial models which can be used for teaching students complex anatomical structures remotely and in 3D, as well as used for generating 3D printable models.

Dr Alison Ridel from the University of Pretoria has created a training manual for 3D Imaging and Printing in the Health Sciences - scroll down to download the manual and begin your own journey in digital model making.

Dr Alison Ridel from the University of Pretoria demonstrating the surface scanner at a workshop she presented to the University of Namibia. Surface scanners can even be used on live subjects, but come in handy for creating digital models of anatomical specimen so that students can study structures in 3D without needing to handle physical materials.

Additive manufacturing in health sciences education

To assist with improving health education in South Africa, 3D printers were purchased by the University of Pretoria, University of Namibia, and University of the Witwatersrand to create teaching materials for health science students. Teaching material such as human bones and anatomical structures are being printed using 3D scans to help facilitate teaching and learning in human osteology, biological and forensic anthropology, human anatomy, and dentistry. The Dirisana+ team envisions the creation of a collaborative environment to share expertise and facilities, and to create sustainability in the use of 3D technology in health sciences education. 

3D printing labs were set up at three southern African institutions thanks to the funding received through the Dirisana+ grant.

The Additive Manufacturing Laboratory opened at the University of Pretoria in the Faculty of Health Sciences

The Department of Anatomy at the University of Namibia set up the Forge3D printing lab

MSc student Kamini Pillay from the University of the Witwatersrand used the 3D printers to create model replicas of juvenile skeletons for teaching and learning

3D printing allows us to create replicas of anatomical models to teach complex structures to students without needing wet specimen, and protects fragile original structures

In collbaoration with the Center of Simulation and Innovation, 3D printed training models were also created at the University of Pretoria for emergency medicine examinations, providing affordable, accessible, and reusable models comapred to current training models availabel in Africa

Surgical training models available at the University of Pretoria

Birthing simulations to assist health sciences training

Birthing simulators were also bought through the Dirisana+ project by Welwitchia University. The birthing simulators were distributed to the four major campuses at WHTC: Windhoek, Kombat, Nkurenkuru and Walvis Bay. The simulators are intended to support teaching and learning in anatomical ad health science and improve midwifery knowledge and skills among staff and students in WU.

The birthing simulator used during a training session at one of the Welwitchia University campuses in Namibia.

Plastination equipment for preserving wet specimen

Plastination is a method used in anatomy to preserve anatomical structures in a dry and odourless state. The specimen of whole organs, whole bodies, or sections are often preserved with minimal aftercare, that are dry, clean, and non-toxic. The University of Namibia is creating a fully functioning plastination unit within their anatomy department to combat the limited number of cadaver specimen available to students. This equipment will assist in providing sustainable teaching materials to be used in various courses at UNAM.

Plastination equipment donated to the University of Namibia by the University of Pretoria.

Tablets for clinical practice students 

Bachelor of Clinical Medical Practice (BCMP) students at the University of Pretoria have received tablets to complete their clinical assignments and practicals on through the Dirisana+ grant. Tablets are used to log patient data according to the International Classification of Primary Care version 3 (ICPC-3) system and to catalogue reasons for patient visits and diagnoses at various suburban and rural clinics across northern South Africa. The patient data collected by the students is used by acadmeic staff in the department to guide assessments and curriculum based on cases actively being seen by students in their clinical rotations.

Staff and students from the University of Pretoria stationed at one of the clinics where patient data is being encoded.