01 Mar Africa and the History of Medicine

Africa is home to some of the most sophisticated medical procedures that the world enjoys today. Some have evolved to become the most reliable that we do today. They traverse the core of medicine and constitute African heritage. Whilst these practices did not take their present form at the time of their introduction, they bear witness to the principles applied by ancient African societies.

Archaeologists recognize Egypt as home to the earliest neurosurgical procedures. They are the first to carry out intensive studies on the anatomy of the cerebral and cranial regions of the body. They also pioneered studies involving the role of the spinal cord in neural transmission. Also, the practise of trepanation, where doctors drill holes on the cranium to treat cerebral illnesses, and stitching has been linked to Ancient Egyptian medical doctors. Howbeit, these procedures preceded the use of anaesthesia.

Egyptians are among the first civilizations that examined the dead for causes of death as part of the religious act of mummification around the 3rd Century BC. Due to regard for human dignity, they do this by removing the organs through tiny slits in the body without disfiguring it. The practice preceded Ancient Greek and Roman autopsy procedures, where it got more popularity and regularization.

The practice of medicine is a fundamental element of the culture of Africa. With its share of climatic variations, cold and heat, and wide-spread flora and fauna that bear testimony to its peculiarities, its ancient civilizations have engaged several means for the management of health and well-being.