Mbuma Mission Hospital

Mbuma Mission Hospital
Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland
Geography
Location Mbuma, Zimbabwe
Organisation
Care system Private
Hospital type Community
Services
Emergency department by staff (24/7)
Beds 100
History
Founded 1957
Links
Lists Hospitals in Zimbabwe
Other links Mission Hospital

Mbuma Mission Hospital is a community hospital in Mbuma, which is a remote village within Nkayi District, Matabeleland North (province). It is owned and operated by the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland and largely funded by the Dutch 'Mbuma Mission Foundation'. The hospital compound is close to the Shangani river, at a height of ca. 1157 meter.

Mission history

The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland has been working in Matabeleland for over a hundred years. The first missionary was John Boyana Radasi, originally from Transkei (South Africa). He arrived in Bulawayo on December 21, 1904.[1] After retaining permission of the local Ndebele chief Ngege he founded the Ingwenya Mission: a church, a school and a home. In 1923, due to government resettlement policies, the new chief Bitisani and his people were moved about eighty miles northwards, to the Nkayi District. The chief asked for a preacher, so John Mpofu and his son Alexander went there.

In 1924 John Radasi was accidentely killed by a train at Bembesi Siding. Shortly afterwards John Tallach, a Scottish minister, arrived in Bulawayo to join the work, which he did till 1948. James Fraser was a teacher under his supervision, who came to Zimbabwe in 1937. Later he also became a missionary.

Between 1924 and 1948 new missions were established: Zenka Mission and Mbuma Mission. Besides this also 'kraal schools' were opened in different communities. In 1954 James Fraser started a Teacher Training Center at Mbuma. The work flourished: in 1965 (before the war for independence) a report listed 31 schools directly run by the Mission, a total of 144 teachers and 5120 pupils.

James Fraser died in 1959, only 54 years old. On his death bed he urged the new missionary Jan van Woerden to continue his job: "I will die, but I believe that the Lord will plant a part of His vineyard here. And He uses people for this. May the Lord give you the courage, power, wisdom and strength to carry on the work."[2]

Currently, the Zimbabwe Presbytery of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland has four ministers serving 30 congregations. According to minister Khumalo there is a great need for more ministers, since the congregations keep expanding.[3]

Hospital history

In 1957, a new hospital was constructed at the Mbuma Mission. It started as a very small building, but expanded quickly. In 1967 the hospital consisted of 6 wards for women and children, a male ward was added shortly afterwards. In 1969, when doctor Tallach started to work in the hospital, it consisted of 40 beds. In the time of doctor Hak this expanded to 80 beds. Nowadays the bed count is around 100. Since December 2005 doctor Snoek is in charge.

List of medical doctors

Doctor's house
Period Doctor Nationality
1969-1976 James Ross Tallach British
1980-1983 James Ross Tallach British
1989-2002 Jannette Benschop-Hak Dutch
2005-date Anneke Snoek Dutch
2015-date Janlouis Bezemer Dutch

Buildings

TBC ward

Nowadays on the hospital compound, surrounded by a fence, there are quite a lot of buildings. The hospital consists of a female ward, paediatric ward, male ward, labour ward, OPD, operation room, dispensary, laboratory and kitchen. Close to the gate a TB ward is situated, and behind the female ward is the female house. In this house live the pregnant women in the last month of their pregnancy. For the staff there are several houses. On the compound there is also a school, church and minister's house. Outside the gate is a little shop.

Services

References

  1. ↑ Quarterly record no. 578. TBS, January–March 2007.
  2. ↑ Mbuma Maandblad. Dordrecht, 38e jaargang.
  3. ↑ Hoop voor crisisland Zimbabwe - Kerk & Godsdienst - Reformatorisch Dagblad
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