Hamilton Naki facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hamilton Naki
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| Born | June 26, 1926 Ngcingane, Centane, Transkei, South Africa
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| Died | May 29, 2005 (aged 78) Langa, Cape Town, South Africa
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| Children | 5 |
| Awards | The Bronze Order of Mapungubwe |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Organ transplantation |
| Institutions | University of Cape Town |
Hamilton Naki (born 26 June 1926 – died 29 May 2005) was a skilled laboratory assistant from South Africa. He worked with famous heart surgeon Christiaan Barnard. Naki was known for his amazing surgical abilities. He could teach medical students and doctors, even though he never went to medical school himself. He played a big part in research on organ transplants using animals.
After he passed away, there was some confusion. Several news reports mistakenly said he helped with the world's first human heart transplant in 1967. Later, these news groups corrected their stories. This showed how important it is to check facts carefully.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Hamilton Naki grew up in a poor family. He was born in a small village called Ngcingwane. This village is in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. He went to school for six years, until he was 14 years old.
After that, he moved to Cape Town. Around 1940, he started working at the University of Cape Town. He began as a gardener, mostly rolling grass tennis courts.
A Career in Medicine
In 1954, a surgeon named Robert Goetz asked Naki for help. Goetz was part of the university's surgery department. Naki started by cleaning animal cages in the lab. Soon, he learned to give animals anaesthesia (medicine to make them sleep during surgery).
Most of Naki's early work involved helping with dogs. He also helped operate on a giraffe once! This was to study its jugular veins. Scientists wanted to know why giraffes don't faint when they bend down to drink.
Working with Christiaan Barnard
After Goetz left, Naki began working with Christiaan Barnard. Barnard had learned about open-heart surgery in the United States. He brought these new methods to South Africa. Naki first helped Barnard by giving anaesthesia to animals.
Soon, Naki became the main surgical assistant in the lab. This was because of his amazing skill. Barnard himself said that Naki was "one of the great researchers of all time" in heart transplants. He also believed Naki would have been a brilliant surgeon if he had gone to medical school.
Developing New Techniques
In 1968, Barnard's team moved to a new lab. Naki helped them create a special heart transplant method. This was called the "piggyback" heart transplant. It's also known as the heterotopic procedure.
In the 1970s, Naki started working on liver transplants. People who worked with him praised his skills.
- Rosemary Hickman, a transplant surgeon, worked with Naki for almost 30 years. She said he had an amazing ability to learn about the body. He could also spot unusual things during surgery. She noted that he could even prepare a donor animal by himself.
- Del Khan, who led the organ transplant unit at Groote Schuur Hospital, learned from Naki. Khan said that in the U.S., a pig liver transplant needed two or three trained surgeons. But Hamilton Naki could do it all by himself.
- Ralph Kirsch, head of the Liver Research Centre, called Naki a "remarkable man." He said Naki mastered complex surgical skills without formal education. He then taught these skills to young doctors.
- Barnard himself said that liver transplants are harder than heart transplants. He admitted that Naki could do parts of liver transplantation that he couldn't. This meant Naki was technically a better surgeon than Barnard in some ways.
Naki taught many students during his career. He helped Rosemary Hickman until he retired in 1991. After retiring, he received a small pension, like a gardener's pension.
Life After Retirement
Hamilton Naki was married and had five children. He lived in a small house without electricity or running water. He sent most of his money to his family in Transkei. He could only afford for one of his five children to finish high school. Naki was also very active in his church. He read the Bible often.
After retiring, Naki helped his community in Kentani. He helped build a school and get a mobile clinic. He did this by asking for donations from his medical contacts.
Awards and Recognition
Hamilton Naki received public recognition for his medical work after he retired.
- In 2002, he received the Metropolitan Eastern Cape Award.
- Also in 2002, he was given The Bronze Order of Mapungubwe. This is one of the highest awards in South Africa. President Thabo Mbeki presented it to him. This award is for South African citizens who show great excellence.
- In 2003, he received the BTWSC Black S/Heroes Award.
- In 2003, the University of Cape Town gave him an honorary master's degree. Chancellor Graça Machel presented this award.
- In 2004, he was part of a special "guard of honour" at the opening of the Parliament of South Africa.
- In August 2017, a square in Cape Town was renamed Hamilton Naki Square. It is near the Christiaan Barnard Hospital.
Hamilton Naki passed away in Langa on May 29, 2005. He was 78 years old and died from heart problems.
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Hamilton Naki
