Zcmbezia (1986), XIII (ii).MEDICAL MISSIONS: A NEGLECTED THEME INZIMBABWE'S HISTORY, 1893-1957C. J. ZVOBGODepartment of History, University of ZimbabweWHILE THE CONTRIBUTION of Christian missionaries to African education incolonial Zimbabwe has been the subject of several doctoral theses,1 not enoughattention has been paid to the role played by Christian missionaries in the field ofAfrican health in colonial Zimbabwe. This is all the more surprising especiallywhen considered in the light of the fact that the medical missionary relieved agreat deal of suffering among Africans in colonial Zimbabwe, particularly in therural areas where, initially, Government hospitals and clinics were either very fewor non-existent. This article focuses on this relatively neglected theme inZimbabwe's history.21 will conlne myself to the medical contribution of fourmajor mission hospitals: Mount Selinda, Morgenster, Nyadiri and Mnene.Christian missionaries established medical missions both because theyregarded the ministry of healing as an integral part of the Christian witness andbecause they viewed medical missions as an important evangelistic agency.3 Forthese reasons, at some mission stations where a trained doctor was not available,some missionaries practised as -amateur doctors.4 The first permanent medicalmission staffed by a medical doctor began when Dr W. L. Thompson, a medicalmissionary of the American Congregational Church, opened a dispensaryat Mount Selinda in 1893. A fellow American medical missionary, of theAmerican Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, Dr William T.Lawrence, opened a small hospital at Chikore mission in 1900.5 The dispensary at1 See, for example, R. J, Zvobgo, 'Government and Missionary Policies on African SecondaryEducation in Southern Rhodesia with Special Reference to the Anglican and Wesleyan MethodistChurches, 1934-1971' (Edinburgh, Univ. of Edinburgh, Ph.D. thesis, 1980); J. N. Hosteller,'Mission Education in a Changing Society: Brethren In Christ Mission Education in SouthernRhodesia, Africa, 1899-1959' (Buffalo, State Univ. of New York, D.Ed, thesis, 1967);J. G. Kamusikiri, 'African Education under the American Methodist Episcopal Church in Rhodesia:Objectives, Strategy and Impact, 1898-1966' (Los Angeles, Univ. of California, Ph.D. thesis, 1978).2 Although the late Prof. Gelfand has done some work on this, on the whole the theme has beenneglected. See M. Gelfand, 'Medicine and the Christian missions in Rhodesia, 1857-1930', inJ. A. Dachs (ed.), Christianity South of the Zambezi, /(Gwelo, Mambo Press, 1973); M. Gelfand, AService to the Sick: A History of the Health Services for Africans in Southern Rhodesia (1890-1953)(Gwelo, Mambo Press, 1976), ch. 13.3 C. J. Zvobgo, 'Aspects of interaction between Christianity and African culture in colonialZimbabwe, 1893-1934', Zambezia (1986), XIII, 54.4 H. O. Brigg, 'The missionary as an amateur doctor', The Foreign Field of the WesleyanMethodist Church (1917-18), 147-9.5 Gelfand, 'Medicine and the Christian missions in Rhodesia', 115.109110MEDICAL MISSIONSMount Selinda was gradually expanded until it became a full-fledged hospitalŠthe Willis F. Pierce Memorial Hospital Š which was formally opened in 1912.In the Victoria Province, Christian medical missions were pioneered bymissionaries of the Dutch Reformed Church. A hospital was erected atMorgenster mission when the first medical missionary, Dr John T. Helm, arrivedin 1894. In addition to his medical work at Morgenster Hospital, Dr Helm starteda leper settlement at Chikarudzo on Morgenster mission farm in 1899. In 1903,after discussions between the Medical Director, Dr Andrew Fleming, and DrHelm, an agreement was reached whereby the District Surgeon, Victoria, wouldmake periodic visits, on behalf of the Government, to inspect the settlement.Accordingly, in January 1903, the Acting Medical Director asked Dr Williams,District Surgeon, Victoria, to visit the settlement and furnish the Governmentwith a general report on the settlement and on the conditions of the inmates.6 InJuly 1914, the Government approved the appointment of Dr Helm as MedicalSuperintendent of the Leper Settlement at Morgenster at a salary of £200 perannum, and the appointment of Mr I. Botha as his assistant at a salary of £180 perannum.7 By 31 December 1916 the Leper Settlement at Morgenster had a total of76 inmates, 54 of whom were males and 22 were females.8 In 1923 theGovernment took over the Leper Settlement at Morgenster and in 1927transferred it to Ngomahuru. For twenty years Dr Helm treated the sick until hisdeparture in 1914 due to failing health. After his departure, the Revds H. W.Murray and G. S. Murray Š who, as licensed ministers, had both attended a briefsix months' course in tropical medicine at Livingstone College, London Šrendered medical assistance until the arrival of Dr M. H. Steyn in 1924.9In 1928 the Government decided to give grants for the first time to missionarysocieties engaged in medical work among Africans. Government Notice No. 543of 10 August 1928 stated that 'in future and until further notice', Governmentwould give grants to 'missionary societies employing qualified medicalmissionaries and/or certificated nurses engaged in bona fide medical work'among Africans towards: (a) salaries of medical missionaries and nurses; (b)maintenance of mission hospitals; (c) establishment of training schools forAfrican probationer-nurses, male and female; and (d) purchase of drugs anddressings, including the upkeep of outdoor dispensaries.10 In addition, theGovernment would pay: half the salary of every registered medical practitioner6 Nfational] A[rchives of] Zfimbabwe], HM/1/1 (Public Health Department, Morgenster LeperSettlement: Correspondence: General, 28 June 1902-4 Apr. 1917), Acting Medical Director toHelm, 27 Jan. 1903.7 Ibid., Fleming to Helm, 7 July 1914.8 Ibid., Helm, Annual Report on Leper Settlement, Morgenster Mission, 1916.9 W. J. van der Merwe, From Mission Field to Autonomous Church in Zimbabwe (Pretoria,N. G. Kerkboekhandel, 1981), 84-5.10 Southern Rhodesia, Government Gazette (10 Aug. 1928), Govt. Notice No. 543, para. 1.C. J, ZVOBGO111employed as a medical missionary to a maximum of £200 per annum; £30 perannum to every missionary society in respect of every missionary employed bysuch missionary society who had attended a special training course in tropicaldisease at any of the recognized British universities, colleges, hospitals or trainingschools;11 and a maximum of £40 in respect of every approved certificated nurseor sister employed by a mission in medical work among the Africans.12 Grantswould also be paid to mission hospitals engaged in training African nursesprovided that the probationer, prior to admission for training, had passedStandard IV, and provided that the period of training was three years.13 Further,in respect of every approved medical mission, Government would refund half thecost of all drugs and dressings used, whether in hospitals or dispensaries, but theGovernment's contribution would not exceed £100 in any year for any missionstation.14 These grants enabled missionary societies to recruit more medical staffand to train African nurses at their mission hospitals.At Mount Selinda, a three year-training course for African nurses, withStandard IV as the minimum entrance qualification, was launched in 1930 withseven student nurses in training.15 A detailed course and syllabus were unveiled in1931.16 In 1934 there were nine student nurses in training. In 1936 Dr Willis H.Willis joined Dr Lawrence at Mount Selinda hospital. In addition to the twodoctors, there were three trained nurses from the United States of AmericaŠMiss Minnie A. Tontz, Miss Edith J. Fuller and Miss Nellie Myers Š andeleven African student nurses in training, five of whom completed the three-yeartraining course in nursing.17 During the year, 858 in-patients and 1,689 out-patients were treated and 57 operations were performed. There were also sevenlepers undergoing treatment at the hospital. Serious cases treated by Dr Lawrenceincluded hookworm, syphilis, bilharzia, yaws, measles, influenza, dysentery,round worm, chickenpox, pneumonia, tuberculosis and black-water fever.18 On15 December, 1938 Miss Theresa Buck, who had trained as a nurse at Peter BentBrigham Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, joined the staff of Mount Selindahospital.19 In 1940,796 in-patients and 2,902 out-patients were treated,20 while11 Ibid., para. 4. 12 ibid., para. 5.13 Ibid., para. 8. 14 Ibid., para. 10.15 NAZ, S2014/6 [Ministry of Health: Correspondence, General, 28 Feb. 1916-25 Apr. 1958:Missions] 2-3 [American Board Mission, Mount Selinda, 27 July 1925-30 Oct. 1947], Lawrence toMedical Director, 14 Nov. 1930.16 Ibid.17 Ibid., Lawrence, Medical Missions: Mount Selinda, Claims under Government Notice 543 of1928, year ending 31 Dec. 1936.18 NAZ, SI563 [Native Affairs Department, C[hief] N[ative] Commissioner] Annual Reports,Reports of CNCs and NCs, 1934-1948], NC, Chipinga, 31 Dec. 1936.19 NAZ, S2014/6/2-3, Willis to Medical Director, 7 Jan. 1939.20 NAZ, SI563, NC, Chipinga, 31 Dec. 1940.112MEDICAL MISSIONSin 1941, 765 in-patients and 2,297 out-patients were treated at the Willis F.Pierce Memorial Hospital.21 The number increased to 910 in-patients and 2,593out-patients treated in 1942.22 By October, 1944 the Willis F. Pierce MemorialHospital had an operating theatre and X-ray equipment.23Meanwhile, at Morgenster, the John Helm Memorial Hospital was completedin 1930 with beds for thirty in-patients.24 A three-year training course for Africanstudent nurses was also introduced. In 1934 the staff consisted of Dr Steyn, twoqualified nurses, three African orderlies and eight African student nurses.25 In1935 the hospital had twenty-four beds, out-patient rooms, a dispensary and anoperating theatre. During the year, 386 in-patients and 4,137 out-patients weretreated and 136 operations were performed.26 In 1936,430 in-patients and 4,732out-patients were treated and 176 operations were performed. The cases mostcommonly treated were: malaria, bilharzia, syphilis, dysentery, various ulcers, eyecases, and infectious diseases such as whooping cough, measles and mumps.27In 1941 it was proposed to build the Cinie Louw Memorial Hospital as anextension of the main hospital at Morgenster. It was to consist of twelve maternitybeds with labour wards and bathroom, twelve beds for children and eighteen bedsfor adult males and females.28 After discussions with the Chief NativeCommissioner, the Native Commissioner, Victoria District, felt that the proposedextension was fully warranted because, besides Africans of the Victoria District,many Africans from adjoining Districts were also treated at Morgenster hospital.'One aspect of the matter which appeals to me particularly', the Chief NativeCommissioner wrote to the Medical Director, 'is the provision of additionalfacilities for training native women in general nursing and midwifery5.2- In 1943the Cinie Louw Memorial Hospital Š named after the wife of the founder ofMorgenster mission, the Revd A. A. Louw Š was completed, with wardsspecially for women and babies. By the end of 1943 Morgenster hospital had sixtybeds for in-patients. In December 1952 an out-patient building was opened atMorgenster Hospital, by which time the hospital had ninety beds for in-patients.21 Ibid., NC, Chipinga, 31 Dec. 1941.22 Ibid., NC, Chipinga, 31 Dec. 1942.23 NAZ, S2014/6/2-3, W. F. Wynee [Supervisor of Hospital] to Medical Director, 2 Oct. 1944.24 Van der Merwe, The Day Star Arises in Mashonaland (Fort Victoria, Morgenster MissionPress, 1953), 46.25 NAZ, S1050 [Native Affairs Department, NC, Victoria: Reports: Annual: 1933-1940], NC,Victoria, 31 Dec. 1934.26 Ibid., Report of the NC, Fort Victoria, 31 Dec. 1935.27 Ibid., Report of the NC, Fort Victoria, 31 Dec. 1936.28 NAZ, S2014/6/13-14 (Morgenster, 12 Aug. 1927-29 Sept. 1942), H. W. Murray toMedical Director, 11 Nov. 1941.29 Ibid., CNC to Medical Director, 3 Dec. 1941.C, J. ZVOBGO113In addition, there were forty female and twelve male student nurses in training. In1952, 1,951 in-patients were treated, 996 operations were performed and 345maternity cases were attended to.30 In 1957 a hospital with fifty-two beds fortuberculosis patients was added to the main hospital at Morgenster.31 Patientscame from all over Southern Rhodesia, as well as from Mozambique, NorthernRhodesia, Nyasaland, Bechuanaland and the Transvaal, for treatment.32According to van der Merwe, there were two main reasons why patients came toMorgenster from different areas and countries: 'Firstly, they were attracted by themedical service rendered in love. Secondly, this service was offered by men andwomen who were professionally capable,'33 In 1951 Dr Steye was awarded theMBE in recognition of his medical work at Morgenster hospital. 'Moreimportant,' according to Daneel, 'the Africans in the rural areas honoured himwith the title "nganga hum yemyikd" (the great "diviner" of the country).'34 Asecond hospital with twenty-five beds was built at Gutu mission. In 1952,1*196in-patients were treated, 510 operations were performed and 138 maternity caseswere attended to at Gutu mission hospital.35 Clinics were also established atsmaller mission stations. Altogether, of the 1,015 beds available in missionhospitals in 19505 about ten per cent were provided by the Dutch ReformedChurch.36The Wesleyan Methodists began medical work among Africans in colonialZimbabwe when they opened their first hospital at Kwenda mission in 1913. TheGovernment offered £200 towards the cost of building the hospital TheGovernment undertook not only to pay the doctor's salary as soon as he arrived atKwenda mission but also to defray the cost of drugs, surgical instruments andgeneral equipment. A medical missionary, Dr Sidney Osborn, arrived at Kwendamission in May 1913. The hospital, with accommodation for eighteen in-patients,was completed during the year; a dispensary was attached to it.37 By 15 December1913, 128 patients had been treated at the hospital.The first few years at Kwenda hospital were very difficult because, amongother things, patients repeatedly put off calling for medical assistance until thedisease had become so chronic that it required months to cure or until it had sucha hold on them that all Dr Osbom could do was to ease the last few hours of the30 Van der Merwe, The Day Star Arises in Mashonaland, 46-8,31 Van der Merwe, From Mission Field to Autonomous Church in Zimbabwe, 86.32 Van der Merwe, The Day Star Arises in Mashonaland, 48.33 Van der Merwe, From Mission Field to Autonomous Church in Zimbabwe, 87.34 M. L. Daneel, Old and New in Southern Shona Independent Churches, /(The Hague, Mouton,1971), 231.35 Van der Merwe, The Day Star Arises in Mashonaland, 48,36 Ibid., 46.37 Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society, The One-Hundredth Report of the WesleyanMethodist Missionary Society (1914) ., . (London, The Society, 1914), 150.114MEDICAL MISSIONSpatient's life.38 After three years the situation had not changed. Dr Osborn wasgetting only a few out-patients daily and very seldom an in-patient at all. In fact,the in-patients were so few that by April 1916 Dr Osborn was using the largestward as a day school for children. By June 1916 the situation had still notchanged; the Shona were still reluctant to come for medical treatment. Under thecircumstances, the Government felt that it was pointless to continue to support DrOsborn's services and withdrew its grant to the hospital.39 In May 1917 Dr andMrs Osborn terminated their services at the hospital and left the country. Theywere forbidden to return on medical grounds.40After Dr Osborn's departure, the missionaries who remained at Kwendahospital continued to give medical treatment as best they could. Between Apriland September 1917, over 500 out-patients were treated. The hospital wasformally closed in December 1917. In spite of the closure of the Kwenda hospital,the Wesleyans did not abandon the ministry of healing. They began medical workat Waddilove Training Institution when Sister Madge Dry arrived in May 1927to train African nurses.41 The only 'hospital' available when she arrived was theverandah of a small house which had been offered to the Church. Her bedroomwas her ward. 'For the first year or so9, she later wrote,I had to do all the nursing myself and only had a girl for cleaning and cooking. Then threegirls from the school who had passed Standard 6 asked if they could come to the hospitaland learn some nursing. I had so little to offer them but felt it was worth trying, so I madeout a simple syllabus and had regular classes. At the end of three years I felt the girls musthave some recognition of their training, so I wrote to the Medical Department e»iu allied ifthey would kindly send us a qualified person to come and examine them. This they did andwere satisfied with the results. We were able to give the nurses a certificate signed by theWaddilove Superintendent, the Examiner and myself. This was the beginning of theNursing Assistant training in the country.42During the year, the Synod of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in SouthernRhodesia requested a grant of £200 from the Missionary Committee in Londontowards the cost of building a dispensary and a small hospital at Waddilove. Thescheme was estimated to cost £500; the balance was to be raised locally. TheMissionary Committee agreed to the request and the hospital was opened on 2338 S. Osbom, 'A doctor in difficulties', The Foreign Field of the Weslyan Methodist Church(1914-15), 304.39 'News from our mission fields', The Foreign Field of the Weslyan Methodist Church (1917-18), 39.40 Wesleyan Methodist Church, Directory of the Rhodesian District (Salisbury, The Church,1918), 2.41 NAZ, S2014/6/28 [Waddilove, 27 Feb. 1925-5 May 1939], White to Medical Director, 31Aug. 1927.42 Sr M. Dry, 'Waddilove Hospital story', Waddilove Review (1963), 11-13.C. J. ZVOBGO115November 1927. The opening of the Waddilove hospital enabled Sister Dry totreat patients who could not get to the District Surgeon. According to the RevdJohn White, it was 'distinctly a case of half a loaf being better than no bread'.43In 1928, four student nurses Š Esther Maketo, Barbara Benn, Dinah Mguguand Lilian Tyeza Š began a training course in nursing at Waddilove hospital.44At the end of the year, they all passed their examination, which was conducted byDr T.G. Burnett of the Bulawayo General Hospital. 'Considered as a whole', hewrote,the result of this examination reflects great credit on the instructress Š Nurse M. P. DryŠ and suggests much care and patience The training of native girls in Nursing shouldbe given every encouragement and should prove of great benefit, not only in the women'swards of Native Hospitals, but in the kraals to which some of these girls will return.45In 1929 Sister Dry sent the Medical Director a detailed syllabus of thethree-year training course in nursing at Waddilove hospital.46 At the end of theyear, five student nurses sat for their examination, which was conducted by MissRees, Matron-in-Chief of the Southern Rhodesia Nursing Service, and all passed.'The girls', she wrote, 'showed great interest and enthusiasm. The practical workwas of very good standard, and the theoretical side, while not carrying the samehigh percentage of marks as last year, is very good indeed'.47 The Government,however, did not recognize Waddilove hospital as a training school for orderliesand nurses, firstly because there was no medical practitioner attatched to themission, and secondly because as the hospital was very small with a limited rangeof diseases treated, it was not considered that an efficient and comprehensivetraining could be given.48In spite of the failure to get recognition of Waddilove hospital as a trainingschool for African nurses, medical facilities were expanded at Waddilovehospital. Shortly before his death in August 1933 the Revd John Whitebequeathed funds for the extension of medical work at Waddilove.49 In 1937 theSynod decided to proceed with the Memorial Hospital at Waddilove, allocating£700 for a men's ward,50 and in 1939, the John White Memorial Hospital," NAZ, S2014/6/28, White to Medical Director, 15 June 1928.44 Ibid., P. Searle, Principal, Medical Missions, Waddilove Report for Year Ending 31 Dec.1928.45 Ibid., Burnett, Waddilove Training Institution, Report of Examination in Nursing, 7 Dec,1928.46 Ibid., Dry to Medical Director, 29 Aug. 1929.47 Ibid., Dry, Report on Nengubo Hospital [Waddilove Training Institution], 1930 [enclosingreport by Miss Rees].48 Ibid., Medical Director to Principal, Waddilove Training Institution, 31 May 1932.49 M. P. Dry, 'The "John White Memorial Hospital" at Waddilove Institution', The KingdomOverseas (1939), 195.50 'Around the district', The Rhodesian Methodist (1937-8), XIII, iii, 5.116MEDICAL MISSIONSconsisting of a women's general ward, maternity ward, a labour ward and ababies' nursery, was officially opened.51 The Hospital served not only theWaddilove community but also the people of the neighbouring Chihota Reserve.The American Methodist Episcopal Church started medical work at Nyadiri. mission when Dr Samuel Gurney, a medical missionary, arrived in 1923. Heworked for over a year with an African assistant he had trained. When Dr Gurneydied in 1924, lie was succeeded by Dr Montgomery, who arrived in 1925. Asmall five-roomed cottage was converted into a hospital. Miss Ona Parmenter, atrained nurse, was appointed to Nyadiri mission in 1926. She served from 1926 to1931, taking care of in-patients and helping to train a few African girls in practicalnursing.52 When she left in 1931, see was succeeded by Miss Alice Whitney,53who had a General Nursing Certiicate from Los Angeles General Hospital and aNursing Certiicate from the London Hospital for Tropical Diseases.54 During theyear, 2,005 out-patients were treated at Nyadiri mission hospital55In 1940, Dr A. G. Anderson MD, a graduate of Northwestern University,was transferred from Korea to Nyadiri mission.56 In October 1941 a new hospital,comprising eighteen beds, a room for clinical work, -a surgical theatre and anobstetric ward, was nearing completion at Nyadiri mission.57 One of the diseaseswhich Dr Anderson and his staff treated at Nyadiri hospital was bilharzia whichwas widespread among the students due to the fact that the students had nowhereto wash except in the nearby river.58In October 1941 Dr Anderson applied to the Government for authority totrain African nurses at Nyadiri mission hospital beginning in 1942.59 TheGovernment was prepared to grant such authority provided that the entrants tothe course had passed Standard ¥1 at some recognized education centre.60 WhenDr Anderson assured the Medical Director that the mission was able to complywith the educational standard required of entrants to the course and that he hadalready received applications from two girls who had passed Standard VI,6151 Dry, "The "John White Memorial Hospital" ', 195-6,52 E. Asfaby, 'The medical work at Nyadiri Mission', The Central African Journal of Medicine(1956), 11,444.53 NAZ, S2014/6/16 (Nyadiri, 12 Feb. 1929-8 Dec. 1945), Whitney to Medical Director, 23May 1931.54 Ibid., A. G. Anderson to Medical Director, 27 Oct. 1941.55 Ibid., Annual Report, Nyadiri Mission, 1931.56 Ibid., W. H. Buchanan (Registrar) to Medical Director, 1 Aug. 1941.57 Ibid., Anderson to Medical Director, 27 Oct. 1941.58 Ibid., Anderson to Medical Director, 26 Aug. 1941.59 Ibid., Anderson to Medical Director, 27 Oct. 1941.60 Ibid., G. A. Taylor (for Medical Director) to Anderson, 17 Dec. 1941.61 Ibid., Anderson to Medical Director, 8 Dec. 1941.C, J. ZVOBGO117authority to train African nurses at Nyadiri hospital was granted in December1941,62 Accordingly, training of African nurses at Nyadiri mission'hospital beganin 1942 when five girls Š Margret Marange, Annie Gezi, Naomi Manyarara,Eunice Denga and Constance Chieza Š arrived. They graduated in 1944 aftertaking an examination, set by the Government Health Department, for NursingAssistants and each received a certificate.63 When Miss Whitney left Nyadirihospital in 1945 she was succeeded by Miss Elma Ashby. In 1956 Nyadirimission hospital had fifty-six beds and thirty students in the Nursing School.64The Church of Sweden opened its first hospital at Mnene mission, the secondat Masase and a clinic at Manama. The first qualified Swedish nurse arrived atMnene in 1915, ten years before the first medical missionary, Dr T.N. Tilander,arrived in 1925.65 Dr Tilander, who was in charge of both Mnene and Masasehospital, was assisted by five trained nurses, three at Mnene and two at Masase. In1931 Mnene hospital had a laboratory, operating theatre and X-ray equipment.During the year, three additional wards capable of accommodating up to ahundred more beds were eearieg completion. According to the NativeCommissioner, Belingwe, the main purpose of Mnene and Masase hospitals wasto combat venereal disease which was rife in the Belingwe District, it beingestimated that seventy-five per cent of the indigenous African population of theDistrict suffered from this disease. In 1930, for example, of the 1,355 patientstreated at Mnene hospital, 634 were treated for venereal disease, 66 for leprosyand the rest for general diseases. At Mnene hospital, of the 1,128 patients treatedin 1930, 877 were treated for venereal disease and 241 for other diseases.66 In1936 Dr Tilander left for Sweden and was replaced by Dr Olof Nordesjo. Duringthe year, 683 in-patients and 101 out-patients were treated for venereal disease atMnene hospital while 657 in-patients and 213 out-patients were treated forvenereal disease at Masase hospital. Of the patients treated for general diseases,566 in-patients and 389 out-patients were treated at Mnene hospital while 250in-patients and 310 out-patients were treated at Masase hospital.67In 1940, twenty-three lepers were treated at Mnene hospital. Commenting onthe medical work carried out at Mnene hospital, the Native Commissioner,Belingwe, wrote: 'I cannot speak too highly of the medical work of this Mission.62 Ibid., Taylor (for Medical Director) to Anderson, 17 Dec. 1941.63 Ashby, 'The medical work at Nyadiri Mission', 444.<* Ibid., 445.65 H. Albrektson, 'The Church of Sweden mission', in P. S. King, Missions in Southern Rhodesia(Cape Town, The Citadel Press, 1959), 66-7.66 NAZ, S2Q14/6/9-10 [Mnene, 11 Feb. 1924-26 Mar. 1947], NC, Belingwe, to Superintendentof Natives, Bulawayo, 10 Mar. 1931.67 NAZ, SI563, NC, Belingwe, 31 Dec. 1936.118MEDICAL MISSIONSNo trouble is too great, no journey too arduous or too long if medical aid isneeded'.68In 1941, a three-year training course in nursing was launched at Mnenehospital with fifteen African student nurses in training.69 In 1942, twenty-sixlepers were treated at Mnene hospital.70 During the year, the number of patientstreated for venereal disease at Mnene and Masase hospitals considerablyincreased. According to Dr Nordesjo, the disease was contracted in the towns andmine compounds by African labourers who then spread it to the rural areasduring their visits home. 'If we do not get a better control on the Natives,especially in the Mine compounds,* he wrote,we will never get rid of this plague of Rhodesia. A first step in the right direction would beto examine regularly everybody at the mines, employees as well as visitors, and to giveeveryone suffering from V-D, treatment on the spot so that they do not lose any days oftheir work. I think that is the reason why many hide their ailments.71In 1945 there were 36 student nurses in training at Mnene hospital.72 In 1946,of the 36 student nurses in training at Mnene hospital, all passed the GeneralNursing examination and were deployed throughout the country. During theyear, 5,830 in-patients and 1,546 out-patients were treated at the hospital.73 Awell-deserved tribute to the medical work carried out at Mnene and Masasehospital was made by the Native Commissioner, Belirgwe District, in 1931. 'Thereputation of these hospitals', he wrote, 'has extended far beyond the borders ofthis District and Natives of many other districts attend at Mnene for treatment...I think no praise is too high for the work done at these hospitals'.74It should be clear from this study that medical missionaries not only relieved agreat deal of suffering among Africans in colonial Zimbabwe especially in therural areas where initially Government hospitals and clinics were either very fewor non-existent but also trained African nurses and orderlies at their missionhospitals. The work of Dr John Helm among the lepers at Morgenster was ashining example of Christian compassion for the outcasts of African society incolonial Zimbabwe. The acceptance of Western medicine by Africans in colonialZimbabwe did not mean that the Africans of Zimbabwe had lost faith in theirtraditional doctors but that in the treatment of certain illnesses Western medicaltechnology proved superior to traditional remedies.« Ibid., NC, Belingwe, 31 Dec. 1940.69 Ibid., NC, Belingwe, 31 Dec. 1941.70 NAZ, S2014/6/9-10, O. Nordesjo, Report on leprosy work done at Mnene, 1942.71 Ibid., Nordesjo, Report on the medical work carried out by Church of Sweden Mission inBeiingwe and Gwanda Districts in the year 1942.72 Ibid., Nordesjo, Mnene Nurses Training School, 8 July 1946.73 NAZ, SI563, NC, Belingwe, 31 Dec. 1946.74 NAZ, S2014/6/9-10, NC, Belingwe, to Superintendent of Natives, Bulawayo, 10 Mar. 1931.