Medical Services in Sudan : A Historical Perspective

Abstract

Medical services in Sudan have evolved through several stages, each bore the characteristics of the political era that dwelled at its time. Based on the nature of medical care and its components we divided medical services in Sudan into the following platforms: 1. Pre-Turkish rule (before 1820) 2. Turku-Egyptian rule (1820-1885) 3. Medicine during the Mahdia (1885-1898) 4. Early British rule (1898-1924) 5. Post Kitchener Medical School (1924) Pre-Turkish rule (before 1820) History tells us that the Kushites had well developed medical care; they defined disease, prescribed medicine and practiced a form of surgical practice. They ruled Egypt from 741-656 BC forming the 25th Egyptian Dynasty. The interchange of knowledge and practice of medicine as shown in the surgical procedure, mummification and medicinal products reached a high standard of skill. Moslems introduced Islamic medicine to the expanding empire that extended to Europe, Africa and Asia. The books of Al Razi, Ibn Sina, Ali Al Magousi and Ibn Al Nafis were the main source of medical knowledge in Europe. The invasion of Sudan by Moslems army in 1276 brought along the era of Islamic medicine to Sudan The Basir (Tabeeb or Al Mutabib) was considered the wise physician and was entrusted with the compounding of medicines; very often, he had considerable knowledge of medicine and his medical practice was more sophisticated than the crude surgery. The medicaments then available are of particular interest, even today, for they represent the long tradition of Islamic medicine that had been handed down over the generations from practitioner to practitioner. Most of the traditional therapeutic procedures commonly used in the north originated from the rich Moslem heritage in the use of medicinal plants, shrubs, and herbs for curing disease. Diagnosis was often good, which again is a reflection of the tradition that had been handed down from generation to generation of the same family. The Turku-Egyptian rule (Al Turkia Al Sabigha) 1820-1885 The Turco-Egyptian era introduced western medicine to Sudan. The first few doctors who arrived were European officers of the Turkish army. Small hospitals were erected in the larger garrison towns of Khartoum, Medani and El Obied. Regrettably medical care was only offered to Turco-Egyptian military personnel and that Sudanese were excluded from the new medical facilities. During the first four decades of Turco-Egyptian rule medical and sanitary care were below the standard of the services available in Egypt at that time. Their hospitals were in very bad condition and were overcrowded with sick soldiers suffering from fever and dysentery. However, during the last two decades things improved both in sanitary and treatment methods. By that time quinine was introduced for the treatment of malaria and vaccination against smallpox became widely known(1) . Before the fall of Khartoum to the Mahdia Rule the town had a large hospital operated by the medical corps of the Egyptian army and several drug stores were run in the town by Greek merchants. That hospital was built few building east of Governor Kurshid Palace (the present republican palace) (2) . That hospital continued to operate until the fall of Khartoum to Mahdia and the transfer of the capital to Omdurman. The hospital was renovated during Anglo-Egyptian rule and was assigned to the Egyptian army and became the Egyptian Military Hospital. The hospital played an important role in the history of Sudan and was the seat of the White Flag Revolution of 1924. Following the revolt of Sudanese soldiers and the evacuation of Egyptian army from Sudan the hospital was allocated to house the new Sudan Medical Service and presently encompasses the Federal Ministry of Health. Medical services during Al Mahdia During Al Mahdia the achievements of the Egyptian trained practitioners were widely recognized in the Sudan. Hassan Zaki, an Egyptian medical officer of Khartoum Hospital acted as medical advisor to the Mahdia government(3) . When The Mahdia fell ill with typhus, Dr Hassan Zaki was called to attend to Sudan Med J 2013 April;49(1) 51 Scientific Events Medical services Siddiq Ibrahim Khalil his illness and provide medical care(