Katoto Kadogo
Member
- Jul 3, 2015
- 27
- 66
The Banyole, an extraordinary community from the ancient kingdom of Uganda, not only practiced but also perfected the art of C-sections long before Europeans. While Europeans primarily focused on saving the baby, Ugandans successfully operated to save both mother and child. In England, a C-section was considered a life-threatening procedure, reserved for the direst circumstances and often involved a choice between saving the mother or the baby.
C-Section: Tools and how it was done
The first successful C-section in Africa, where both mother and baby survived, is often credited to Irish surgeon James Barry (Margaret Ann Bulkley) in Cape Town, South Africa. However, this may be inaccurate given the advanced surgical techniques already present in Uganda. Ugandans performed non-fatal C-sections without anaesthesia, using banana wine for its anaesthetic and sterilizing properties, as discovered by a missionary.
In 1879, medical missionary Robert Felkin visited the Kingdom of Bunyoro and documented his observations of obstetric care, including a C-section he witnessed. Felkin noted that Ugandan C-sections were performed to save both mother and baby, in contrast to the high maternal mortality rates in Europe.
James Barry (Margaret Ann Bulkley)
The Ugandan surgeon would first sterilize his hands, instruments, and the woman’s abdomen with banana wine and give the patient banana wine to drink to dull the pain. Bark cloth was used to cover her breasts and vaginal area.
The procedure began with the surgeon reciting incantations, with responses from the patient's relatives and loved ones gathered outside the hut. After the ritual, the surgeon proceeded with the operation. In Europe, the practice of surgeons sterilizing their hands before a C-section was a new concept that significantly reduced mortality rates once adopted.
The Ugandans had mastered this procedure long before interacting with Europeans, who later arrived as explorers, adventurers, missionaries, and plunderers.
Kwa Kiswahili, soma: Je, unajua kwamba Afrika ilifanya na kukamilisha upasuaji wa C-Section muda mrefu kabla ya Wazungu?
C-Section: Tools and how it was done
The first successful C-section in Africa, where both mother and baby survived, is often credited to Irish surgeon James Barry (Margaret Ann Bulkley) in Cape Town, South Africa. However, this may be inaccurate given the advanced surgical techniques already present in Uganda. Ugandans performed non-fatal C-sections without anaesthesia, using banana wine for its anaesthetic and sterilizing properties, as discovered by a missionary.
In 1879, medical missionary Robert Felkin visited the Kingdom of Bunyoro and documented his observations of obstetric care, including a C-section he witnessed. Felkin noted that Ugandan C-sections were performed to save both mother and baby, in contrast to the high maternal mortality rates in Europe.
James Barry (Margaret Ann Bulkley)
The Ugandan surgeon would first sterilize his hands, instruments, and the woman’s abdomen with banana wine and give the patient banana wine to drink to dull the pain. Bark cloth was used to cover her breasts and vaginal area.
The procedure began with the surgeon reciting incantations, with responses from the patient's relatives and loved ones gathered outside the hut. After the ritual, the surgeon proceeded with the operation. In Europe, the practice of surgeons sterilizing their hands before a C-section was a new concept that significantly reduced mortality rates once adopted.
The Ugandans had mastered this procedure long before interacting with Europeans, who later arrived as explorers, adventurers, missionaries, and plunderers.
Kwa Kiswahili, soma: Je, unajua kwamba Afrika ilifanya na kukamilisha upasuaji wa C-Section muda mrefu kabla ya Wazungu?
