Evolution of health care
system in Nigeria covers three main periods namely:
system in Nigeria covers three main periods namely:
• pre-colonial Period
• colonial Period
• post-independence Period
Pre-Colonial Period
This is the period before
the advent of colonial government in Nigeria.
the advent of colonial government in Nigeria.
This period was dominated
by traditional health care providers.
by traditional health care providers.
Examples include:
• dibia– In the Igbo
region
region
• gozan – In the
Nupe region
Nupe region
• wombai – In the
Hausa region
Hausa region
• babalawo – In the
Yoruba region
Yoruba region
• abia ibok – In
Efik and Ibibio region
Efik and Ibibio region
Colonial Period
This period started around
mid 17th century to Nigerian independence from colonial rule. This period was
characterised by infiltration of western-oriented (modern) health care,
traceable to the arrival of European missionaries and traders. Here, health
care was provided by British colonial government to their expatriates and
privileged few.
mid 17th century to Nigerian independence from colonial rule. This period was
characterised by infiltration of western-oriented (modern) health care,
traceable to the arrival of European missionaries and traders. Here, health
care was provided by British colonial government to their expatriates and
privileged few.
The period also gave rise
to missionary hospitals that sought to provide health care services to the
grassroots and less privileged. Also with the integration of the army with the
colonial government, public health services originated and government offered
to treat the local civil servants and the relatives.
to missionary hospitals that sought to provide health care services to the
grassroots and less privileged. Also with the integration of the army with the
colonial government, public health services originated and government offered
to treat the local civil servants and the relatives.
Post-independence period
This period started after
the independence in 1960, till date. Highlights of this period were:
the independence in 1960, till date. Highlights of this period were:
1. basic Health Services
Scheme (BHSS) designed to provide community based comprehensive health care,
with emphases on disease prevention and health promotion
Scheme (BHSS) designed to provide community based comprehensive health care,
with emphases on disease prevention and health promotion
2. development of health
manpower to man the existing health care facilities
manpower to man the existing health care facilities
3. schools of health
technology established to train and retrain personnel
technology established to train and retrain personnel
4. establishment of primary,
secondary and tertiary levels of health care
secondary and tertiary levels of health care
5. zoning of the country into six
geo-political areas for the implementation of primary health care
geo-political areas for the implementation of primary health care
6. establishment of teaching
hospitals for training and retraining medical personnel
hospitals for training and retraining medical personnel
7. providing more licenses for
qualified medical personnel to man private hospitals
qualified medical personnel to man private hospitals
8. establishment of National
Health Insurance Scheme
Health Insurance Scheme
9. research and orientation
into new disease burden (example, HIV/AIDS).
into new disease burden (example, HIV/AIDS).
Conclusion
As indicated in this unit,
medicine has had its role in all cultures and
medicine has had its role in all cultures and
civilisations. However, the
real development of the hospital derived from the spread of Christianity and
the ideas of Christian charity and caring for all who might be in need for
conversion. The Islamic world also developed hospitals and by the 11th century,
there were large hospitals in every major Muslim town. In Nigeria, provision of
medical services was first introduced by the colonial masters, specifically by
the British Army Medical Services to its colonies and protectorates.
real development of the hospital derived from the spread of Christianity and
the ideas of Christian charity and caring for all who might be in need for
conversion. The Islamic world also developed hospitals and by the 11th century,
there were large hospitals in every major Muslim town. In Nigeria, provision of
medical services was first introduced by the colonial masters, specifically by
the British Army Medical Services to its colonies and protectorates.
Also, the evolution of
health system in Nigeria covered three main
health system in Nigeria covered three main
periods namely: Pre-colonial
Period, Colonial Period and Post-independence Period, each with peculiar
features and characteristics.
Period, Colonial Period and Post-independence Period, each with peculiar
features and characteristics.