History of ghana gold coast british colony, history of ghana 19661979, elmina castle, ghana empire, ashanti empire, angloashanti. 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 its treatment. The history, the current prevalence and the approach to a patient jewel llamas april 2017 introduction female circumcision, also known as female genital mutilation fgm or female genital cutting fgc, is practiced in many countries spanning. The dynamics of innovation in traditional medicine in ghana. From the precolonial to the modern day toyin falola and tyler fleming encyclopedia of life support systems eolss people have lived in africa for more than three million years. 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 the national health. The emergence and life of a western anthropological project was more than simply.
He is also affiliated with the department of history at the university of copenhagen and a research associate of the wilberforce institute for the study of slavery and emancipation, university of hull. The history of western medicine in ghana 18801960 addae, stephen on. This belief is strongly held by indigenous africans. Most conventional health medicines are directly or indirectly derived from plants or herbs.
Despite its significant role in modern medicine indigenous herbal practices has been on the low light for some time due to perceived antagonistic relationship that. In addition to hospitals and clinics staffed with british medical professionals, these. Integrating traditional medicines into western medical. Traditional, complementary and alternative medicine use in. A history of western medicine, medical progress and advances. Western culture now is regarded as frontline civilisation.
This knowledge is typically in the hands of spiritual healers, but the vast majority of families have some knowledge of traditional medicine, which is often inherited and passed down through the generations via folklore. In what is frequently referred to as the old public health, our early efforts in disease prevention were directed at providing access to clean water, safe housing, and more nutritious and cleaner sources of food, especially meat products. This support was also based on rawlings willingness to enact austerity measures, which. African traditional medicine is a mainstay of primary health care for the majority in africa. For millennia, people around the world have healed the sick with herbal or animalderived remedies, handed down through generations. According to the study, chinese consumers tend to prefer traditional chinese medicine tcm but will opt for western medicine in particular situations, such as when they are hoping to quickly. Western medicine was first introduced into the gold coast by christian missionaries and missionary societies in the nineteenth century. The fabrication of metallic tools and implements, textile production, traditional medicine or food processing, involved the application of. This course describes the precolonial and postcolonial systems of healthcare. 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.
Pdf public health in colonial and postcolonial ghana. As a result many people use both orthodox and traditional medicine treatments depending on what is wrong with them at a point in time. The history of western medicine in ghana 18801960 stephen addae on. Culture of ghana history, people, clothing, traditions, women, beliefs, food, customs, family geit. Before the advent of western medical practice in the atiwa district, people travelled to nkawkaw, koforidua, and kyebi for medical treatment. Culture of ghana history, people, clothing, traditions. Nigeria, and ghana, indigenous african healing systems remained highly utilized by large. Stephen addae, the evolution of modern medicine in a developing country. Background the who estimates that a considerable number of people in subsaharan africa ssa rely on traditional, complementary and alternative medicine tcam to meet their primary healthcare needs, yet there remains a dearth of research evidence on the overall picture of tcam utilisation in the region. The history of health in ghana was heavily influenced by international actors. Herbal medicine in ghana, as in most african countries, is a very popular health care system. In ghana, around 70 percent of the population sees traditional medicine as a desirable and necessary means of treating problems that western medicine cannot adequately remedy. A summary of how human medicine progressed due to scientific and ethical research and treatment of humans and was often led astray by unscientific methods that contributed.
Do you know of traditional surgical procedures in west africa, apart from bone setting. In countries like ghana, mali, zambia and nigeria, the first line of treatment for 60% of children with high fever resulting from malaria is the use of herbal medicine who, 2002b. 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. African health history promoting research on the history of health in africa. Of the more than 12 000 items used by traditional healers, about 500 are in common use li, 2000. Trends and challenges of traditional medicine in africa. In ghana, as in most african countries, it is estimated that more than 60% of the population uses traditional medicine in many instances to help meet some of the primary health care needs. The impact of african traditional religious beliefs and. Traditional african medicine and its role in healing in a. In africa and asia, 80 per cent of the population still uses traditional remedies rather than modern medicine for primary healthcare.
African traditional medicine is a form of holistic health care system organized into three levels of specialty, namely divination, spiritualism, and herbalism. In precolonial ghana, infectious diseases were the main cause of morbidity and mortality. 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. Now, researchers are partnering with communities and elders to learn about and integrate this knowledge into a western context. The african belief system and the patients choice of. Traditional african cultural practices paved the way for foreign way of doing things as africans became fully westernised. The evolution of modern medicine in a developing country. The paper further argues that the infiltration of western forces during colonialism facilitated the obtrusion of.
Stephen addae, the history of western medicine in ghana 18801960, bishop auckland, durham academic press, 1997,pp. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. This was a key theme in the early history of ghanas independence. 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. Kwasi konadu is assistant professor of history at the city university of new york. With africa subjugated and dominated, the western culture and european mode of civilisation began to thrive and outgrow african cultural heritage. Pdf history of western medicine from hippocrates to germ theory. 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. Although animal and mineral materials have been used, the primary source of remedies is botanical. 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. However, the arrival of the europeans marked a significant turning point in the history of this agelong tradition and culture. Addae, stephen history of western medicine in ghana 18801960. Traditional medicines have existed since time immemorial and 80 percent of the world still relies on them.
Oral history and other sources suggest that the ancestors of some of ghanas residents. Ghana, first of the great medieval trading empires of western africa fl. 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. From traditional training to formal education dama. One major difference between conventional, western medicine and traditional african medicine, is the way of viewing illnesses and their treatments. 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. The traditional healer provides health care services based on culture, religious background, knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs that are prevalent in his community.
Ghanas drive to transform traditional medicine into a potent vehicle for healthcare delivery has been on track since the 1990s. A new knowledge network to promote research on the history of health in africa and to broker support for african historians and health workers to participate in the global dialogue on the history of health is being proposed under the global health histories initiative. The medical system in ghana article pdf available in the yale journal of biology and medicine 873. Pdf public health in twentyfirst century ghana is mired with several issues ranging. This article engages the literature on the social history of medicine in africa, and works on alcohol use in nonwestern societies, in an attempt to offer an understanding of alcoholism in ghana rooted in ghanaian cultures and history. It explores how alcohols established ties with spirituality influences ghanaian perceptions of alcoholism. 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. The african belief system and the patients choice of treatment from existing health modelsthe case of ghana.
The history of public health has been a history of humanitys battle with disease and premature death. Herbal medicines remain integral part of indigenous health care system in ghana. Ghana north of the forest zone was inhabited as early as 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. History of public health an overview sciencedirect topics. Herbal medicine in ghana and most african countries is a very popular method of health care darko, 2009. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 426k, or click on a page image below to browse page by page. Although relatively small in area and population, ghana is one of the leading countries of africa and is celebrated for its rich history. Pdf history of western medicine from hippocrates to germ. 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.
World civilizations and history of human development african civilizations. An excerpt from the book titled slaughter of the innocent by medical historian hans ruesch, civitas publications, hartsdale ny, 1979 and 1991, pages 147200. Full text full text is available as a scanned copy of the original print version. It is usually practised by traditional or spiritual healers. This 26chapter book, directed at students and the general reader, gives an informative account of how imperial britain systematically developed a medical service. Up until the 20th century western medicine was not much better than a placebo and often medical procedures did more harm than good. Until the late 1800searly 1900s europeans used african medicine to treat certain tropical illnesses. Doc the history of african traditional medicine onuh. Ghana psychic and traditional healing association, western region, 196370. This knowledge is typically in the hands of spiritual healers, but the vast majority of families have some. Get a printable copy pdf file of the complete article 274k, or click on a page image. This is a reminder that many of the medicines used today are derived from traditional medicine. The integration of traditional and western medicine.