History of Health Adminitration in Nigeria- Part 1
https://innovativenewthinking.blogspot.com/2018/02/history-of-health-adminitration-in.html
Administering
Health in the Colonial Era
The Current system of
health administration in Nigeria at the Federal Level evolved to a large extent
from the Army Medical Corps established by Lord Fredrick Lugard after
the First World War, (1914-1918) following the withdrawal from the country of substantial numbers of
health care personnel, particularly Europeans to render professional services
at various theatres of wars. This severely impacted negatively on the delivery
of health services in Nigeria as at that time.[1] Prior to this time, health
care delivery had in some form existed, while modern health care was first
introduced in the Nigeria territory (Benin district) in the second half of the
15th Century [2] through the Dutch West
Indies Company. The health care services provided then were limited to the
expatriate trading staff in their duty outposts, and not to the indigenous
African Population.
In 1504, the
Roman Catholic mission opened an hospital at St. Thomas Island just off
the Bight of Benin, this as a result of trade and religious missions to the
land area now known as Nigeria. Trans-Atlantic slave Traders also brought along
Ships’ Doctors and Surgeons to attend to their health care needs along with
that of their human cargo. Though the colonial Administration in Nigeria made
good provision for the health care of their military personnel and expatriate
officials, they however made little provision for the indigenous populations.
The first military hospital was established in Lagos by 1873.
Healthcare
delivery to indigenous populations was largely carried out by the evangelising
Missionaries through their chain of hospitals, and traditional health
attendants. Notable among the Christian missions were Roman Catholic Mission
who, under Rev. Father Francois and Sister Maria of Assumption were the
pioneer staff at the first mission
hospital in Nigeria; the famous Sacred
Heart Hospital in Abeokuta in 1886.[3]
The
Presbyterian Mission was also in operation in the South-eastern part of Nigeria
at about that period. Mary Slessor
(1848-1915), a Scottish health worker recruited by the Foreign Mission Board of
the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland (UPCS) worked passionately for four
decades in Calabar where she eventually died and was buried. She was a strong
influence, all be it through dedicated, selfless service at the then St. Margaret’s Hospital Calabar, a
leading mission Hospital, was established in 1898. The Church Missionary
Society (CMS) also did a lot of pioneering work in Lagos and Abeokuta under the
leadership of Henry Townsend
(1813-1860) and David Hinderer. Following the consecration of Rev. Samuel Ajayi Crowther by the Church
of England in 1864 as the Bishop of
Western Equatorial Africa beyond the Queen’s Dominion, was the
establishment of various health care posts as far as Lokoja, then to Calabar
and the Southern Cameroon by the new Bishop in the course of his Episcopal missions.
Worthy of mention is the fact that the provision of care in dispensaries,
maternity centres as well as home nursing during that period were spearheaded
by the Anglican and Methodist missions.[4] The Qua Iboe mission,
(1891) as well the Baptist mission also established a number of dispensary and
maternal services in southern Nigeria. These early missions were the beginning
of modern medical care for the Nigerian people, replacing Ship Physicians and
Surgeons operating at trading centres, according to Schram (1966).
[1]
SCHRAM, R. (1966). Development of Nigerian Health Services, 1460-1960. ( MD
thesis, Cambridge University,)
[2] Ibid
[3]
SCHRAM, R. (1971): A history of the Nigerian Health Services, University Press,
Ibadan.
[4]
Ibid
