The Kitchener School of Medicine: 20th-century medical education in Sudan

During its 27 years as an independent institution, the Kitchener School of Medicine in Khartoum, Sudan, was recognised internationally as a pioneer of medical education in Africa. Many of the students who graduated with the diploma of the Kitchener School of Medicine (DKSM) went on to leading roles within the Sudanese Medical Service and also in politics and civic life, helping establish the new Sudan after independence in 1956.

From the beginning the Kitchener School maintained links with the Royal College of Physicians (RCP); several lecturers, assessors and outside examiners were fellows and in time a number of Sudanese graduates became members and were elected to the fellowship.

The idea for a medical school was reputedly first put forward by Lord Kitchener (governor general of Sudan from 1898 to 1899) on his last visit to the country in the summer of 1914, but the plans were temporarily suspended during the First World War. Following Kitchener’s death at sea in 1916, the decision was made to name the proposed medical school in his honour. A site in Khartoum was donated by the government, and construction began in 1922. The new school was opened by the governor general Sir Lee Stack on 29 February 1924, with Khartoum Hospital (established in 1908) becoming the main teaching hospital.

Black and white engraved illustration of the Kitchener School of Medicine building, with columns in front and a large domed roof

The Kitchener Memorial Medical School, Khartoum, Sudan. Process print, 1924, after G.B. Bridgman. Wellcome Library, London.

There were precedents in Africa; in 1827 a medical school was founded by the French Army in Cairo, Egypt, which became the Kasr Al Ainy Medical School, and in 1917 a school was established at Mengo Hospital in Kampala, Uganda.

The first faculty members at the new Sudanese school were doctors from the government’s Sudan Medical Service and staff from the Wellcome Research Laboratories, which was established in Khartoum in 1903. Herbert Chavasse Squires (1880–1964) became the director of Khartoum Hospital in 1924 and in 1926 was appointed as the first lecturer at the medical school. He was later joined by other staff, including another influential physician and lecturer, Roy Mervyn Humphreys, Finlay Mayne, a senior surgeon, and J S Hovell, a gynaecologist.

The initial idea was to give Sudanese students a general medical education, so that they could take up posts as doctors within their own country: there was no expectation that the graduates would specialise or take higher qualifications abroad. The intake to the 4-year course was small (limited to just 10 a year until 1938) and was made up of students from the Gordon Memorial College, the country’s leading secondary school.

In 1933 Sir Eric Pridie (1896–1978) became director of the Sudan Medical Service and of the Kitchener School. During his tenure he encouraged Sudanese appointments to key posts, sometimes against fierce opposition, and pushed for higher standards. His aim was to make medical education in Khartoum comparable to UK medical schools, partly to allow graduates to go on to higher training abroad. In the 1930s the curriculum was developed and the course was gradually extended, lengthening to 6 years in 1939.

He encouraged Sudanese appointments to key posts, sometimes against fierce opposition. Sarah Gillam, assistant editor, Munk’s Roll, on Sir Eric Pridie, director of the Sudan Medical Service and of the Kitchener School

In 1938 the Kitchener School was partially recognised by the royal colleges forming the London Conjoint Board. From that date graduates who had at least 2 years’ hospital experience after qualification were eligible for admission to the final examination of the board (the MRCS LRCP qualification) on completion of 1 year’s practice in a recognised hospital and medical school in the UK. In 1946 full recognition was given by the Conjoint Board and, from the 1940s, the RCP also began to allow graduates of the Kitchener School to take the membership exam, on the production of a letter of recommendation from the director of the Sudan Medical Service.

There were further links with the royal colleges: from 1927 to 1938 leading physicians and surgeons from the UK travelled to Sudan every year to assess the final examinations for the DKSM, including Sir Alexander Biggam (1888–1963), Sir Henry Tidy (1877–1960) and Sir Walter Langdon-Brown (1870–1946). From 1938 ‘visitors’ were appointed to inspect the Kitchener School, including, in 1950, Lord Brain (1895–1966), the then president of the RCP.

From the late 1920s, graduates of the Kitchener School began to progress to key positions within the Sudan Medical Service. Among the first to graduate, in 1928, was Ali Bedri (1903–1987). After qualifying, he became the first Sudanese to hold the post of senior medical officer at the Omdurman Hospital and Khartoum Hospital. In 1937 he went to the UK for further training at Hammersmith Hospital in London, and on his return was appointed as an assistant deputy director of medical services. In 1949, he became a member of the first legislative assembly and was appointed as minister of health. He was the first Sudanese to be elected as a fellow of the RCP, in 1952.

Black and white photograph of a man in half-profile

Ali Bedri, 1970. We have endeavoured to identify the copyright holder(s) in this photograph. Please contact us if you are the rights holder.

Adbel Halim Mohamed Halim (1910–2009) graduated from the Kitchener School in 1933, and 6 years later went to the UK for further training in general medicine and cardiology. In 1950 he became the first Sudanese director of the Omdurman Hospital, and in 1953 was appointed as a senior physician to the Ministry of Health and also director of Khartoum Hospital – again the first Sudanese to hold these posts. He was also an influential lecturer at the Kitchener School of Medicine and later at the medical faculty of Khartoum University. He was one of the founding members of the Sudanese Medical Association and the first president (from 1949 to 1965). He became a fellow of the RCP in 1962.

Black and white photograph of 10 men seated and standing for a form photograph

Graduates of the Kitchener School of Medicine, 1933. Reproduced by permission of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum.

Halim was also active in politics: he was one of the founders of the Conference Movement, which called for improved conditions for the Sudanese people and wider access to education. He also co-founded the journal Al Fajr (The Dawn), which became a hub for social, cultural and nationalist movements in Sudan.

Mansour Ali Haseeb (1910–1973) graduated with the DKSM in 1937, and specialised in bacteriology and parasitology. He studied in London and in 1943 gained his diploma in bacteriology. In 1952 he was appointed as director of research by the Sudan Ministry of Health, and in 1963 became professor of bacteriology and parasitology and dean of the faculty of medicine at the University of Khartoum. He was elected as a fellow of the RCP in 1969.

Black and white photograph of black men seated and standing for a form photograph

Graduates of the Kitchener School of Medicine, 1940. Reproduced by permission of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum.

Daoud Mustafa-Khalid (1917–2008) graduated with the Kitchener School in 1940. In 1950 he was awarded a scholarship to London to study internal medicine, and gained his MRCP in 1952. In 1953, on his return to Sudan, he became a lecturer at the University College Khartoum, and, in 1963, he was appointed as the first Sudanese head of the department of medicine at the University of Khartoum. A decade later, he became dean of the medical school. He also established neurology as a specialty in Sudan, and was a founding member and president of the first Sudanese neurological society. He gained his FRCP in 1967.  

To learn more, Please click the link:

https://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/kitchener-school-medicine-20th-century-medical-education-sudan

Comments
  • Fantastic site. A lot of useful info here. I’m sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks for your effort!

  • Sweet blog! I found it while browsing on Yahoo News. Do you have any tips on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thank you

  • I am really inspired together with your writing talents and also with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid topic or did you customize it yourself? Either way stay up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to peer a nice blog like this one nowadays..

  • After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.

  • My spouse and i felt peaceful that Emmanuel could deal with his homework with the ideas he was given in your web site. It’s not at all simplistic to simply happen to be handing out guides which men and women have been trying to sell. And we also grasp we need the blog owner to thank because of that. Those illustrations you’ve made, the straightforward web site navigation, the friendships your site make it possible to engender – it is everything incredible, and it’s really aiding our son in addition to us believe that that article is enjoyable, which is certainly really essential. Thanks for all!

  • Wonderful web site. Lots of useful information here. I am sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks for your effort!

  • This web site is known as a walk-via for all the info you wanted about this and didn’t know who to ask. Glimpse right here, and also you’ll definitely uncover it.

  • Hello There. I discovered your weblog using msn. This is an extremely neatly written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and return to learn more of your useful information. Thank you for the post. I’ll definitely comeback.

  • I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your site to come back in the future. All the best

  • When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!

  • naturally like your web-site however you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very bothersome to inform the reality nevertheless I will certainly come back again.

  • Thanks for some other informative web site. The place else may just I get that kind of info written in such a perfect means? I have a undertaking that I am simply now running on, and I have been on the look out for such information.

  • I just could not depart your website before suggesting that I extremely enjoyed the standard info a person provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back often in order to check up on new posts

  • Welcome to our website, your primary source for all the freshest news and developments on the broadcasting landscape in the United Kingdom. Whether you’re curious in telecasts, FM/AM, newspapers, or online content, we offer thorough coverage that keeps you knowledgeable about the key advancements and movements. From breaking reports to detailed analyses, our team of veteran journalists and industry specialists work ceaselessly to bring you the most precise and latest data – https://ukeventnews.uk/setting-spotify-as-your-primary-music-player/
    In conjunction to news, we provide insightful features and opinion essays that delve into the intricacies of the media industry. Our articles cover a variety of topics, including regulatory shifts, media ownership, and the impact of new technologies. We also emphasize the accomplishments and difficulties faced by media professionals, providing a platform for voices from through the industry to be heard and respected.
    Stay connected with the pulse of the UK media scene through our constantly updated content. Whether you’re a media professional, a student, or simply a media enthusiast, our website is designed to serve to your interests and requirements. Join our growing community of readers and make sure you’re always in the know about the dynamic and always developing world of media in the United Kingdom.

  • Кондиционирование воды осуществляет ключевую роль в гарантировании безотказной работы заводского оборудования – https://machinetechsolutions.ru/issledovanie-korpusa-membrany-p-2-series-4-djujma-2/. Метод состоит из кондиционирование и регулирование воды для исключения загрязнений, таких как солевые компоненты, органика и микроорганизмы. Это обязательно для предотвращения окисления, солевых отложений и иных проблем, которые могут снизить работоспособность устройств и снизить долговечность. Использование современной водоподготовки даёт возможность не только обеспечить надёжность и долговечность техники, но и уменьшить затраты на его обслуживание и починку.

    Новые системы водоподготовки содержат разнообразие этапов обработки и техники. Среди них можно выделить механические фильтры, нужные для удаления больших частиц, обратноосмотические системы, которые полностью удаляют солевые элементы, и ультрафиолетовые установки, очищающие воду от бактерий. Также важную роль играют химические компоненты, применяемые для регулирования pH и защиты от коррозии. Внедрение автоматизированных систем управления существенно улучшает точность и результативность процесса кондиционирования воды, что имеет большое значение в масштабах промышленного производства.

    Эффективная водоподготовка положительно сказывается на окружающую среду, минимизируя выбросы вредных соединений в окружающую среду. Использование современных технологий и устройств минимизирует расход воды и её загрязнённость, что соответствует с нормами устойчивого развития. Производственные компании, уделяющие внимание водоподготовке, не только улучшают свои производственные показатели, но и демонстрируют заботу к экосистеме. В результате, правильная организация процесса водоподготовки представляет собой конкурентное преимущество и вкладом в развитие, как для предприятий, так и для общества в целом.

  • Attractive section of content. I just stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital to assert that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts. Any way I’ll be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently quickly.

  • Кондиционирование воды выполняет ключевую роль в обеспечении функциональности производственного оборудования – https://vodoclean.ru/skvazhinnyj-nasos-aquario-asp3b-75-100be-obzor.html. Процедура включает в себя очистку и настройку воды для нейтрализации вредных веществ, таких как растворимые соли, органика и микробы. Это требуется для предотвращения окисления, накипи и прочих проблем, которые могут ухудшить производительность машин и снизить долговечность. Эксплуатация качественной водоподготовки даёт возможность не только обеспечить надёжность и долговечность техники, но и уменьшить расходы на эксплуатацию и ремонт.

    Современные системы водоподготовки содержат различные виды технологических процессов и техники. Среди них можно выделить механические фильтры, используемые для удаления больших частиц, обратноосмотические системы, которые эффективно устраняют солевые элементы, и ультрафиолетовые системы, убивающие бактерии. Также важно отметить химические компоненты, применяемые для регулирования pH и борьбы с коррозией. Внедрение автоматизированных систем управления даёт возможность значительно улучшить точность и результативность процесса водоподготовки, что имеет большое значение в условиях масштабного промышленного производства.

    Современная водоподготовка положительно влияет на окружающую среду, уменьшая количество выбросов вредных соединений в природную среду. Применение новых технологий и аппаратов позволяет сократить потребление воды и её загрязнение веществами, что соответствует с целями устойчивого развития. Производственные компании, занимающиеся водоподготовкой, не только улучшают свои производственные показатели, но и демонстрируют ответственное отношение к окружающей среде. В результате, грамотная организация водоподготовки становится важным конкурентным преимуществом и вложением в устойчивое развитие, как для компаний, так и для социума.

  • Good – I should certainly pronounce, impressed with your web site. I had no trouble navigating through all tabs and related information ended up being truly easy to do to access. I recently found what I hoped for before you know it at all. Quite unusual. Is likely to appreciate it for those who add forums or anything, web site theme . a tones way for your client to communicate. Nice task..

  • Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue along with your
    web site in internet explorer, would check this?

    IE still is the market leader and a big component of people will omit your excellent
    writing due to this problem.

  • An impressive share, I simply given this onto a colleague who was doing a little bit evaluation on this. And he in truth bought me breakfast as a result of I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the deal with! However yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love studying more on this topic. If doable, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with extra details? It is extremely useful for me. Huge thumb up for this weblog put up!

  • Wonderful website. Lots of helpful info here. I am sending it to a few friends ans also sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks for your effort!

  • I just couldn’t depart your site prior to suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard info a person provide for your visitors? Is gonna be back often in order to check up on new posts

  • Heya just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the images aren’t loading correctly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different web browsers and both show the same outcome.

  • I do trust all of the ideas you’ve introduced to your post. They’re very convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are very quick for novices. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thank you for the post.

  • Attractive section of content. I simply stumbled upon your website and in accession capital to say that I
    acquire actually enjoyed account your weblog posts.

    Anyway I’ll be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement
    you get admission to constantly quickly.

  • Hey very nice site!! Man .. Excellent .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your web site and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find numerous useful info here in the post, we need work out more strategies in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  • My partner and I stumbled over here from a different page and thought I may as well check things out. I like what I see so now i am following you. Look forward to finding out about your web page repeatedly.

  • naturally like your website however you need to take a look at the spelling on several of your posts. Many of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very bothersome to inform the reality then again I will surely come back again.

  • This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and sit up for in the hunt for extra of your great post. Additionally, I have shared your site in my social networks!

  • Have you ever thought about publishing an ebook or guest authoring on other sites? I have a blog based upon on the same ideas you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my readers would appreciate your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an email.

  • Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing a little research on that. And he just bought me lunch since I found it for him smile Thus let me rephrase that: Thank you for lunch! “Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine.” by Sir Arthur Eddington.

  • Thanks, I have recently been searching for information approximately this topic for a long time and yours is the greatest I’ve discovered till now. However, what in regards to the conclusion? Are you sure concerning the supply?

  • I’m really enjoying the design and layout of your website. It’s a very easy on the eyes which makes it much more enjoyable for me to come here and visit more often. Did you hire out a developer to create your theme? Exceptional work!

  • I just could not depart your web site before suggesting that I actually enjoyed the standard information a person provide for your visitors? Is going to be back often in order to check up on new posts

  • Greetings! I’ve been reading your weblog for a long time now and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Porter Texas! Just wanted to say keep up the great work!

  • Hello! Someone in my Facebook group shared this website with us so I came to look it over. I’m definitely enjoying the information. I’m book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Outstanding blog and amazing design and style.

  • An impressive share, I just given this onto a colleague who was doing a little analysis on this. And he in fact bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If possible, as you become expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It is highly helpful for me. Big thumb up for this blog post!

  • Thank you for sharing superb informations. Your web site is so cool. I am impressed by the details that you?¦ve on this web site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this web page, will come back for more articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched all over the place and just could not come across. What an ideal web-site.

  • Do you have a spam problem on this website; I also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation; many of us have created some nice practices and we are looking to trade methods with others, please shoot me an e-mail if interested.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Thanks for submitting your comment!