The Role and Impact of Western Medicine in the North-Western Province of Zambia, 1900 - 19630

Samundengu, Lilian (1992) The Role and Impact of Western Medicine in the North-Western Province of Zambia, 1900 - 19630. Masters thesis, University of Zambia.

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Abstract

In this study, it has been pointed out that throughout the colonial period, there was a prevalent assumption held by the colonial state, missionaries and indeed Europeans (in general) that western scientific medicine provided the most appropriate means of coping with human diseases Because of these preconceived ideas, the type of medical services provided by both the missionaries and the colonial Government was oriented towards pursuing this same view The missionaries openly associated traditional medicine with heathenism and often excommunicated Christians who were alleged to be involved in the practice of The Government through various pieces of legislations sought to undermine traditional healing while it offered support to Western medicine. The discussion, however, shows that despite the hostile environment traditional medicine was faced with, it still continued to survive due to the fact that ~estern medical services were still inadequate and inaccessible to the majority 'Northwe~tern province of Zambia. of the people of the / Secondly, it was gradually learnt that not all diseases could be cured by Western medicine So the local people soon realised that there was ~till something in their traditional medicine which they had relied upon for ages Despite the continued existence of traditional medicine, it did not remain static but changed to adapt itself to the new diseases introduced into the society as a result of contact with outsiders, colonialism and penetration of mine based capitalism in Zambia Through labour migration, the indigenous disease pattern was completely transformed Yet Western medical services did not grow parallel to the changed epidemiology. Instead, the main concern of the colonial state was to ensure that the disease disrupted the colonial economy as little as possible. Owing to this, short-term measures were adopted whenever there was an outbreak of an infectious disease It was therefore not surprising that throughout the colonial period, curative medicine was used as a substitute for public health The lack of emphasis on preventive medicine led to the continued reoccurrences of infectious diseases which could be controlled through innovation or any other means. Furthermore', the study will argue that the western medical work in North-western Province was born out of missionary work But the missionaries did not develop an elaborate medical system bea.ause of lack of finances and trained personnel Additionally, the medical ministry was only used as a weapon to obtain access to local people whom they sought to convert Therefore,medical work was done as an ancillary to their evangelistic work and therefore had to

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > D History (General) R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Geoffrey Obatsa
Date Deposited:	20 Dec 2018 09:58
Last Modified:	20 Dec 2018 09:58
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/8909

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