By Rev. R. MACDONALD, M.B., Ch.B.
I MUST begin this report of the Medical Work of the Mission by expressing regret for the delay in forwarding it. The year that has passed has been quite uneventful as far as the Medical Work is concerned.
As you are already aware the Government is carrying out a scheme whereby provision is to be made for the native people. The completion and effective working of such a scheme will in time make quite unnecessary the activities we undertake in this connection. For the present there is not likely to be much progress made with this scheme, rather if the war continues for a long time, may we expect curtailment, and so far as we are concerned the position remains unchanged and the need for aid as we have been giving it the same as when the work was first proposed.
Actually our records show that more people received medical aid in the year that is past than in any previous year. An average of four hundred persons have been seen and treated at Ingwenya every month exclusive of those seen at our out-stations. Some of the diseases endemic in these parts are of such a nature (i.e., malaria, etc.) as to be amenable only to specific drugs which are unfortunately also very expensive, and in recent months, very expensive indeed. We also feel it a duty to make use of some of the newest and most efficient drugs, which also are very expensive, so that the actual drug bill for the year is higher, and will in the future be higher still.
It is possible that after the War, and the victory which we ardently hope and pray for, far-reaching decisions will be taken affecting the native peoples of this Continent, greatly affecting their material and physical prosperity for the better; and the time may not be very far distant when Missionary Bodies will feel themselves relieved of responsibilities in the way of making medical provision for their people which they now feel they must accept as far as they are able. The immediate future is dark indeed and although far removed from hostilities and the dire distress of the peoples of Europe it is more than probable that the people here will stand more than ever in need of the spiritual and material help we have been able to afford them.
I wish to thank those kind friends in Scotland, London, and Canada who have at various times sent out parcels and donations for this part of the work. Such gifts are invaluable.
Some progress was made towards building further accommodation. The existing buildings have been repaired and overhauled, but during the rainy season, now practically over, work was suspended, but shortly it is hoped that the huts which used to be our home will be ready for use on their new site.
The Government-paid instructress, Rhoda Stinta, still acts in the capacity of nurse and assistant in the Dispensary. Her services in the last year, as always, have been greatly appreciated.
The Mission has in a very humble way contributed in a Government Survey into the incidence of Trachoma, an eye affection among the natives. This, by the way, is not serious or very extensive: