History of western medicine in ghana pdf free

Western medical practices seem to have questioned or even denied the efficacy of. The evolution of modern medicine in a developing country. Naaeder department of surgery, university of ghana medical school mrs. A practical atoz reference to drugfree remedies using vitamins, minerals. Ofei department of medicine, university of ghana medical school. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 1. Ghanaian politicians marked this important transition by replacing the territorys colonial label with the name of a great indigenous civilization of the past. In addition, the democratic shift in ghana spurred healthcare reforms in. Culture of ghana history, people, clothing, traditions. The trusts commitment to rendering historical research instrumental in the pursuit of better health has generated opportunities for greater, and more meaningful, exchange between science and the humanities and. The use of herbs master of arts 2009 isaac nortey darko graduate department of sociology and equity studies university of toronto abstract herbal medicines remain integral part of indigenous health care system in ghana. African traditional medicine is a form of holistic health care system organized into three levels of specialty, namely divination, spiritualism, and herbalism. This 26chapter book, directed at students and the general reader, gives an informative account of how imperial britain systematically developed a medical service in ghana formerly the gold coast from the introduction of the first public health policies by the colonial office in the 1880s to the first medical school in the newly independent nation to a health service acclaimed as among the.

Bynum, explores the key turning points in the history of western medicinesuch as the first surgical procedures, the advent of hospitals, the introduction of anesthesia, xrays, vaccinations, and many other innovations, as well as the rise of experimental medicine. Invaluable to instructors promoting the history of medicine in preprofessional training, and stressing majo. Illness is regarded as having both natural and supernatural causes and. Culture of ghana history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family geit. Ghana succumbed to attacks by its neighbors in the 11th century, but its name and reputation endured. Stephen awuni, research scientist, science and technology research institute, council of scientific and industrial research csir, accra, ghana. In 1957, when the leaders of the former british colony of the gold coast sought an appropriate name for their newly independent statethe first black african nation to gain its independence from colonial rulethey named their new country after ancient ghana. The history of western medicine gives a broad overview of medical history in the western world, from its foundations with the ancient greeks through to. History of western medicine in ghana 18801960 1996 addae, s. Nkrumah government institutionalized free healthcare in the immediate post. Use of herbal medicines in developed countries has expanded sharply in the latter. As noted by asante 1987 any interpretation of africa must begin at once to. In the early 1990s, a democratic movement resurfaced and began to sweep through africa.

Explores the dynamic processes by and through which scholars have. This chapter is about the role of indigenous traditional medicine hereafter referred to as itm, traditional medicine in ghana. The traditional healer provides health care services based on culture, religious background, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs that are prevalent in his community. No annoying ads, no download limits, enjoy it and dont forget to bookmark and share the love. A reduced kingdom continued to exist after almoravid rule ended, and the kingdom was later incorporated. The history of health in ghana was heavily influenced by international actors. The dynamics of innovation in traditional medicine in ghana. This 26chapter book, directed at students and the general reader, gives an informative account of how imperial britain systematically developed a medical service. Taking a thematic rather than strictly chronological approach, w. As of today we have 78,563,798 ebooks for you to download for free. Ghana, country of western africa, situated on the coast of the gulf of guinea. Ghana north of the forest zone was inhabited as early as 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. The medical system in ghana article pdf available in the yale journal of biology and medicine 873.

History of medicine in subsaharan africa oxford handbooks. Large selection and many more categories to choose from. A summary of how human medicine progressed due to scientific and ethical research and treatment of humans and was often led astray by unscientific. This article engages the literature on the social history of medicine in africa, and works on alcohol use in non western societies, in an attempt to offer an understanding of alcoholism in ghana rooted in ghanaian cultures and history. Oral history and other sources suggest that the ancestors of some of ghana s residents. Business computer education law medicine psychology reference science see all. This course describes the precolonial and postcolonial systems of healthcare. An excerpt from the book titled slaughter of the innocent by medical historian hans ruesch, civitas publications, hartsdale ny, 1979 and 1991, pages 147200.

Pdf public health in twentyfirst century ghana is mired with several issues. What was found was that traditional and western medicine are serving different functions in ngaoundere, with different strengths. Pdf history of western medicine from hippocrates to germ theory. This comprehensive and visually intriguing chronicle extends from ancient greece to the present. The history of medicine a very short introduction pdf. The fabrication of metallic tools and implements, textile production, traditional medicine or food processing, involved the application of.

A reduced kingdom continued to exist after almoravid rule ended, and the. As elsewhere in africa, the climate of ghana varied during the pleistocene epoch about 2,600,000 to 11,700 years ago. This richly illustrated volume provides a wideranging history of western medicine, charting the. Africas experience of colonial medicine has challenged the. Herbal medicines in african traditional medicine intechopen. Stephen addae, the history of western medicine in ghana 18801960, bishop auckland, durham academic press, 1997,pp. Over the past 30 years ghana has made significant progress in enhancing the standing of traditional medicine.

The history of medicine a very short introduction pdf free download ebook description against the backdrop of unprecedented concern for the future of health care, this very short introduction surveys the history of medicine from classical times, through the scholastic medieval tradition and the enlightenment to the present day. Trends and challenges of traditional medicine in africa. One major difference between conventional, western medicine and traditional african medicine, is the way of viewing illnesses and their treatments. This knowledge is typically in the hands of spiritual healers, but the vast majority of families have some. It was situated between the sahara and the headwaters of the senegal and niger rivers, in an area that now comprises southeastern mauritania and part of mali. In many parts of rural africa, traditional healers prescribing medicinal plants are the most easily accessible and affordable health resource available to the local community and at times the only therapy that subsists. All formats available for pc, mac, ebook readers and other mobile devices. Plants and their secondary metabolite constituents have a long history of use in modern western medicine and in certain systems of traditional medicine, and are the sources of important drugs such as atropine, codeine, digoxin, morphine, quinine and vincristine. A medical historian, dr stephen addae, in his book, the history of western medicine in ghana 18801960,described the health situation in ghana in the year 1951 as a system which was. Ghana s health programs were financed entirely through general taxation, but with free public healthcare and large government spending, ghana found herself struggling economically. The history of western medicine chronicles a tension between ideologies of patient carethe holistic hippocratic view and the specialization view, with a depersonalization of the patient that coincides with the rise of pathologic anatomy in the early modern era. Traditional medicine refers to the knowledge, skills and practises based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, used in the maintenance of health and in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness. Herbal medicine in ghana and most african countries is a very popular method of health care darko, 2009. The paper further argues that the infiltration of western forces during colonialism facilitated the obtrusion of.

History of ghana gold coast british colony, history of ghana 19661979. The history of western medicine in ghana 18801960 stephen addae on. Oct 14, 2019 the three colors of the flag red, green, and black and the black star in the middle are all symbolic of the panafricanist movement. News ghana is ghanas leading online news portal for business in west africa and around the world. Stephen addae, the evolution of modern medicine in a developing country. For millennia, people around the world have healed the sick with herbal or animalderived remedies, handed down through generations. In many parts of rural africa, traditional healers prescribing medicinal plants are the most easily accessible and affordable health resource available to the local community and at times the only therapy that. Ghana, first of the great medieval trading empires of western africa fl. For readers of a major reference work on the history of disease, this essay offers a broad introduction of western medicine from antiquity to the end of the 19th century. Nkrumah tried to free ghana from this dependence by building the akosambo dam on the volta river, but the project put ghana deeply in debt and created intense opposition. This is because of continued facade to keep the continent under western influence and control. In the precolonial period traditional village priests, clerics, and herbalists were the primary care givers, offering advice and treatment to the sick. It begins with african medicine and its historical development and discusses colonial medicine, which is the subject of much recent scholarship. Western medicine was first introduced into the gold coast by christian missionaries and missionary societies in the nineteenth century.

Indigenous traditional medicine in ghana springerlink. Use of traditional healers and modern medicine in ghana. Traditional medicine is often termed alternative or complementary. Unlike its western counterpart, traditional african medicine is said to take a holistic approach, which is based on the premise of interconnectedness, and often includes indigenous herbalism in. Traditional chinese medicine export reaches record high. A copy of the license is included in the section entitled gnu free documentation license.

In africa and asia, 80 per cent of the population still uses traditional remedies rather than modern medicine for primary healthcare. Traditional medicine who regional office for africa. A new name of great resonance in african history is adopted ghana although the ancient kingdom of that name was far to the north, in presentday mali. However, the arrival of the europeans marked a significant turning point in the history of this agelong tradition and culture. Today the ministry of health supervises the medical system, as well as control of. Jul 03, 2011 prior to the introduction of cosmopolitan medicine, traditional medicine used to be the dominant medical system available to millions of people in africa in both rural and urban communities. Articles from medical history are provided here courtesy of cambridge. Department of medicine, university of ghana medical school mr. Key essays explore the major issues and debates through a combination of classic articles and the newest research in the field. Although economically poor by western standards, it has a proud history, including as the first subsaharan state to regain independence from. Holistic medicine and the western medical tradition. In the history of medicine, the ancient romans were known to have played a. Sickness in ghana has been traditionally viewed as affecting ones entire being, including the spiritual and supernatural, therefore it takes more than just the physical to heal. Nkansah department of pharmacy, korle bu teaching hospital dr.

It explores how alcohols established ties with spirituality influences ghanaian perceptions of alcoholism. Stephen addae, the evolution of modern medicine in a. The content areas of the journal reflect the interests of medical herbalists and other health professionals interested in the. They were realmost the sole providers of modern medicine until after wo rld war i owusuansah 1994, p. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. The integration of traditional and western medicine. The republic of ghana is named after the medieval west african ghana empire.

Natural products and traditional medicines are of great importance. Pdf in this chapter we chart population health changes in ghana since. Unlike its western counterpart, traditional african medicine is said to take a holistic approach, which is based on the premise of interconnectedness, and often includes indigenous herbalism. The african belief system and the patients choice of treatment. With greater precipitation, the forest spread northward and humans retreated toward the sahara.

While they had a complex society, a division of labor, wealth, and trade, the ghana empire like the inca in the americas did not have a form of writing as we know it. By way of free will, humans choose among various options based on many factors. Ghana 18801960, bishop auckland, durham academic press, 1997, pp. Western ideas about health and medicine have evolved from the notion that black magic caused illness to a. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 274k, or click on a page image. Links to pubmed are also available for selected references. Medicine and health care ghana has a modern medical system funded and administered by the government with some participation by church groups, international agencies, and ngos. The history of western medicine is believed to have begun with the ancient greeks, particularly hippocrates, who is considered the father of western medicine. In ghana, there is a spiritual involvement in the treatment of illness. A history of western medicine, medical progress and advances.

Prior to the introduction of cosmopolitan medicine, traditional medicine used to be the dominant medical system available to millions of people in africa in both rural and urban communities. The history of health in ghana was heavily influenced by international actors such as christian missionaries, european colonists, the world bank, and the international monetary fund. Herbal medicine in ghana, as in most african countries, is a very popular health care system. Christian missionaries and missionary societies were the. From traditional training to formal education dama. The history of western medicine in ghana 18801960 addae, stephen on. As such, much of the information we have of the civilization. In addition, the democratic shift in ghana spurred healthcare reforms in an attempt to address the presence of infectious and noncommunicable diseases eventually resulting in the formation of. From ancient religious rituals and magical incantations, to renaissance practices such as purging, bleeding, and trepanning, to modern day miracles such as antibiotics, cat scans, and organ transplants, the advance of western medicine has been nothing short of astonishing. Although relatively small in area and population, ghana is one of the leading countries of africa and is celebrated for its rich history.

It describes the laying of the foundation of western practice of medicine and the further development of the system since the country became politically independent. History of western medicine in ghana 18801960 agris. Pdf health and healthcare in ghana, 19572017 researchgate. Pdf history of western medicine from hippocrates to germ. Apr 09, 2019 one major difference between conventional, western medicine and traditional african medicine, is the way of viewing illnesses and their treatments. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The history of herbal medicine in africa predates the ancient mesopotamia. As long as europe dominates over africa there is no how the latters education systems can gain recognition. A reader in culture, history, and representation is both an introduction to the cultures of africa and a history of the interpretations of those cultures.

Download fulltext pdf download fulltext pdf download fulltext pdf download fulltext pdf download fulltext pdf. Annotated guide to the dutch archives on ghana and west africa in the nationaal archief offering a comprehensive overview of available sources. This article aims to bring together two historiographical strands, one originating in the discipline of the history of medicine, and the other originating in african history. Here is some general information about you new host country the flag the coat of arms the national anthem maps data on ghana introduction geography climate people education history ghanas presidents government and political conditions economy foreign relations links the flag of ghana. The empire appears to have broken up following the 1076 conquest by the almoravid general abubakr ibnumar. Based on previous news reports that have warned ghanaians to be very circumspect about some of the western drugs they are taking, we thought it appropriate to. Imagine an ancient civilization that had so much wealth dogs wear gold collars, horses slept on custom expensive carpets. In addition to hospitals and clinics staffed with british medical professionals, these. Ghana, formerly the british colony of the gold coast, assumes a special prominence as the first african country to acquire independence from european rule. Prepared under the editorship of loudon, research fellow at the wellcome unit for the history of. The empire became known in europe and arabia as the ghana empire after the title of its emperor, the ghana. Pdf for readers of a major reference work on the history of disease, this essay offers a broad introduction of western medicine from antiquity to the. Mar 31, 2010 the history of western medicine gives a broad overview of medical history in the western world, from its foundations with the ancient greeks through to the end of the 20th century.

The traditional medicine and modern medicine from natural. Designed for survey courses in the field a history of medicine presents a wideranging overview for those seeking a solid grounding in the medical history of western and non western cultures. History of western medicine in ghana, 18801960 book. The use of medicinal plants as a fundamental component of the african traditional healthcare system is perhaps the oldest and the most assorted of all therapeutic systems. Its members have also attempted to assure the government, through the ministry of health, that the dispensation of herbal medicine has a role to play in modern medical practice in ghana. It is usually practised by traditional or spiritual healers.

In precolonial ghana, infectious diseases were the main cause of morbidity and mortality. The republic of ghana is named after the medieval ghana empire of west africa. Most conventional health medicines are directly or indirectly derived from plants or herbs. There has been a historical neglect of mental health disorders although there is. Mensah department of pharmacy, komfo anokye teaching hospital prof. Hippocrates, along with the roman physician galen, had profound influence on western medicine. Against the backdrop of unprecedented concern for the future of health care, this very short introduction surveys the history of medicine from classical times, through the scholastic medieval tradition and the enlightenment to the present day. This was a key theme in the early history of ghana s independence. News ghana is ghana s leading online news portal for business in west africa and around the world. Pdf public health in colonial and postcolonial ghana. Full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version.