IN submitting this, the first Medical Report from Ingwenya, I trust it may be the first of many which in the future will show, under the hand of God, lasting good, not only to the bodies, but also to the souls of men. This report being that of a beginning, is a one of small things. I arrived at Ingwenya Mission on the 15th of October, 1928. The Rev. J. Tallach had on hand a quantity of drugs and surgical dressings, so that I was enabled to commence work without delay. From the beginning I have also had at my disposal a room to serve as a surgery. This is what used to be the study of the late Mr Radasi. It is an iron building divided into two rooms each about ten feet by twelve, one of which was already furnished with book shelves. The latter were at once put into service, a working bench and wooden couch were added later to this room, thus making quite a serviceable surgery and dispensary. The building being made of iron was found to be uncomfortably hot in the summer, and in the hope of improving conditions by providing a through draught a small window was let into the back. The other room has been used as a ward for in-patients. Patients come usually in the forenoon. This has been made a rule, but it is not strictly adhered to, and we have people coming at all hours of the day. The number of consultations at the Mission up to date is over two thousand (2000), patients coming chiefly from the Reserve and Fingo Location. Many come very long distances from farms. Diseases treated include all minor ailments (such as coughs, headaches, etc.), sore eyes, dysentery, pneumonia, intestinal worms, and various skin diseases. Of diseases more peculiarly of the Tropics, yaws and malaria have been met with. This part of Rhodesia is comparatively free from mosquitoes, and hence malaria is not common in people who have not been for some time elsewhere. Venereal disease, especially syphilis, is fairly common both in adults and in children. This is likely to be a big problem in the future owing to unsatisfactory conditions in mine compounds and town locations for natives. Large numbers of natives work in the mines and towns, and many contract this disease, return home to the Reserves alike ignorant of the seriousness of the disease and indifferent as to the results. The Government gives treatment free to all patients having this disease. Minor surgical cases, burns, and injuries have been dealt with; more serious cases have been sent to the Native Hospital in Buluwayo. A small number of people have been treated as in-patients for the following:—Pneumonia, two cases; dislocation of the shoulder, one case; neglected wounds, three cases. All, with one exception, a sadly neglected case, made a satisfactory recovery. Visiting has been difficult this summer owing to the heavy rains. The car has been used when possible, but for the first three months of this year I have had to rely almost entirely on a horse for going about, but even riding as a mode of travel is difficult if not impossible when the rivers are full.
Last week I accompanied Mr Tallach to Shangani. We stayed there one day, holding a service in the afternoon, after which I held a clinic, which was attended by fifty patients. These were chiefly Chief Bidisani’s people, and live in close proximity to our Mission School. The Shangani Reserve is very large, and there is a very wide field there for Medical and Evangelical work.
The Native Commissioner at Nyati has kindly offered to help me in arranging clinics at places outside of this Reserve. In my work I am as yet very much dependent on the services of an interpreter. Occasionally there is a patient who knows sufficient English to make his wants known and to interpret for others. Mr Tallach has been of the greatest assistance to me in my work, not only as interpreter but also in giving me an insight into native ways and customs.
Together with this report I am sending plans and estimates of what I think would be a suitable hospital to the Mission. The plans are rough, but the main measurements are correct. If such a building should be erected it would, I think, be large enough to take at least six to eight beds. In working out this scheme I have assumed that the present surgery will be taken down and the material used in the new building. As it stands it is unsuitable; the high temperature inside makes it quite impossible to work in it for any length of time. The initial cost of building with burned brick instead of green or Kimberly bricks is greater, but the advantage gained in stability and permanency is altogether out of proportion to the difference in cost. It is intended to make use of the wood, doors, etc., in the present buildings thus reducing the cost somewhat.