The History and Evolution of Anesthetic Care in Rwanda.
Although the development of anesthesia as a specialty and its practice in Rwanda have occurred postindependence, there are several contributing factors that have had an impact on the current state of the delivery of anesthetic care. European colonization of Africa, in general, and Belgium's control, in particular, are primary factors that have had a significant impact on education. The ripple effect has had a long-lasting impact on health care as well as other facets of present-day Rwandan society. Tertiary education did not start until the latter half of the 20th century and has left this country with the belated development of an educated population in sufficient numbers to handle health care problems and provide sufficient care to its population. This article will examine the history of Rwanda and delineate factors that have led to the current state of anesthetic practice.
Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: rfmartin@partners.org.
Ramon F
RF
Martin
Lecturer, Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda.
Charles
C
Rangira
Senior Lecturer, Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda.
Jeanne
J
d'Arc Uwambazimana
Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Sukumar P
SP
Desai
D000758:Anesthesia / Q000266:history*; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000266:history*; D000777:Anesthetics / Q000266:history*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D012432:Rwanda
D000777:Anesthetics