THE  START OF TUMUTUMU MISSION

In 1998, PCEA Tumutumu Presbytery celebrated their 90th anniversary.  Now in 1999 it is the turn of PCEA Tumutumu Hospital. Church of  Scotland missionaries and Kikuyu evangelists established a mission on the southern slopes of Tumutumu Hill in 1908.  Rev. H. E. Scott, the head of the Kikuyu mission station, and Dr. John Arthur, a newly arrived missionary doctor, travelled to Mathira in July 1908. Tumutumu Hill was chosen with the aid  of the district commissioner of Nyeri district as an ideal meeting place. The Hill had previously been a place for cattle grazing, and a place for traditional worship.

Various accounts exist to explain how the missionaries were given land at Tumutumu. The most commonly held is that the missionaries were welcomed as guests and granted land by leading elders of the leading clans: Gacece wa Karuoro, Kamwere wa Ndecho and Murakaru wa Muya.

The first evangelists to work at Tumutumu were Petro Mugo and Danieli Waciira who had trained at Thogoto. They commenced a school, and in a few months were teaching around 80 children. The first missionary to remain at Tumutumu was Arthur Barlow who was involved in teaching and evangelism.

THE START OF MEDICAL SERVICES

Medical work at Tumutumu was commenced in 1909 by a "dispenser" from the Kikuyu mission named Kitoto.  Gathu wa Kihurunjo, also from Kikuyu, came later to replace Kitoto. Dr. Horace Philp from the Church of Scotland arrived in April 1910 to develop the medical work further. Philp's first medical building was the bedroom of the grass hut shared by himself and Barlow. This served as a dispensary. Outpatient consultations were conducted outdoors with crowd of interested spectators watching. Dr. Philp saw 3446 outpatients in his first nine months. The first "inpatient" at Tumutumu was a young man called Karona who had yaws. He built his own hut on the mission site in order to receive "inpatient" care!

In 1911 a temporary ward of poles and thatch was built large enough to contain eight beds.  A better dispensary for the storage of drugs was also completed. This wood and iron structure also served as an examination room and operating theatre. The first ward had to be destroyed when a patient died in it. Other patients then refused to enter the building fearing the "thahu" caused by the dead body. Subsequently a separate "thahu" ward was built where the dying could pass on in peace without disrupting the care of
the living.

A PERMANENT HOSPITAL

By 1912 Philp's annual report described 83 in patients and 8482 outpatients treated. Many of the outpatients were seen on mobile clinic visits to nearby markets. Inpatients then were nursed in one of two mud-and-wattle buildings each big enough for 12 patients.  At that time Dr. Philp appealed for funds to build a permanent hospital. In March 1913 a lady calling herself " A Scotch sympathiser" donated a cheque for £300.  This money was used to build a corrugated iron building which was opened on 25th March 1914.  This building initially housed an outpatient department, two small wards and an operating theatre. Over the last 85 years the building has served variously as a male ward, a staff hostel, a paediatric ward, a community health department, a chapel, and up to the current year was still in use as a female surgical ward. The new Mt. Kenya ward to be dedicated as part of the 90th anniversary celebrations will finally replace this
historic building.

ENDEMIC YAWS

In the initial years of Tumutumu Hospital there was not a great demand for western medicine. Local people preferred the known and trusted treatments offered by traditional healers. A change in popularity for Tumutumu occured in 1917 when "Galyl" (bismuth sodium tartrate) first became available locally for the treatment of yaws. Dr. Philp estimated that 50% of the population suffered from this skin disorder. "Galyl" was successful in treating the yaws bacteria (a spirochaete), in establishing the hospital's reputation, and in securing sufficient profit to subsidize the other work of Tumutumu Mission.

FAMINE AND INFLUENZA

A crisis in the health of the local population was seen in 1918 the year of "Ngaragu ya Thika". This famine was caused  by failure of the long rains. But was worsened as many men were away from home conscripted to assist the British army during World War I.  Over 5000 young men were conscripted from Nyeri district alone. Starving women and children were forced to walk the 80 kilometers to Thika to obtain famine relief supplies. At that time the railway came no further north. The effects of the famine extended into
1919 when the influenza pandemic claimed more lives as weakend women and children succumbed to the disease.

It was at this time (July 1919)  that Dr. Clive Irvine joined the mission staff at Tumutumu.  Tumutumu opened ten dispensaries to deal with the crisis of famine and influenza.  Although the government funded some of this outreach work, the government hospital in Nyeri did not reopen until the early 1920's. In 1919 the hospital recorded over 30,000 attendances. Between 10-20% of the population of Nyeri died as a result of famine and
influenza combined. Dr. Clive Irvine remained at Tumutumu for less than 3 years, as he proceeded to Chogoria to continue the mission of  healing there.

 
NURSE TRAINING

Formal nurse training was commenced in 1929.  Initially trainees received a certificate recognized by the Church of Scotland only. Government recognised training succeeded the local training in 1949.  At first, Tumutumu offered enrolled nurse training. The course was revised to enrolled community health nursing in 1989.

INDEPENDENCE

Like all Church of Scotland activities in Kenya, Tumutumu Hospital was handed over to the Presbyterian Church of East Africa in 1956.  At that time, and continuing to today the PCEA own three hospitals:  Kikuyu, Tumutumu and Chogoria. All hospitals and other institutions underwent difficulties and served the injured during the emergency preceeding Kenya's independence in 1963. A regiment of the Kings African Rifles encamped on the playing field at Kiamubira during those years. Doctors needed a
military escort when proceeding to the hospital for night duties.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

The hospital has continued to grow and develop over recent years. The Woman's Guild held a fundraising in 1964 thus demonstrating true PCEA ownership of the work. Monies raised were used to install posts around the maternity ward. This ward was built as a two storey building in 1929. By the 1960's the building was insecure.  It was strengthened in 1964, and finally made a single storey building with a new roof in 1970.  Ward 2 (paediatrics) was built and officially opened in 1969. Ward 5 and 6 (male
medical and surgical) were added in  1970.

A harambee was held on 24th June 1974 to raise money to erect new operating theatres. This harambee was assisted by the then vice-president Mr. Daniel Arap Moi.  A further harambee was organised by Tumutumu Presbytery in 1988/9. Money raised then was used to build the mortuary.  The outpatient department opened in 1993  was built with funds from the Presbyterian Church in the USA.  More  recently in May 1995 this  His Excellency Daniel Arap Moi, assisted the hospital again, this time as President of the
Republic of Kenya.  Monies and equipment given enabled developments including bedlinen, curtains, laundry machines, X-ray and ultrasound, covered walkways and improved water supplies.  Several donors have assisted the PCEA Mount Kenya Region to build their new ward to be opened and dedicated as part of this years celebrations.

THE PRESENT DAY

Tumutumu is now a large, busy hospital that no-one could have dreamed of 90 years ago.  In 1998 over 5,000 inpatients were treated in medical, surgical and paediatric wards.  In addition, 2,400 deliveries were conducted in the maternity department.  These figures include some of the extra workload during the national government nurses strike which finished in early February 1998. Tumutumu nurses and other staff continued offering dedicated services during those months.

The outpatient department assisted over 64,000 patients, the largest number recorded in the hospital's history. In particular, the new diabetic clinic attended growing numbers of patients. The community health department continued mobile clinic and full time dispensary services, serving over 18,000 individuals at a total of 9 centres.  Aids education messages were received by more than 8,500 people. 179 PAP smears for cervical cancer screening were done.

Over 1,100 major operations were performed, plus over 1,600 minor procedures, and over 3,000 dental extractions. The laboratory staff did over 56,000 tests; including screening over 1,300 samples for hepatitis B, a test newly introduced that year. The X-ray department also did over 2,300 X-rays and scans. Physiotherapy services have developed dramatically, including the start of a regular out-patient clinic service.

The School of Nursing continue to obtain excellent results. The 20 students of the March 1997 class all passed, 2 obtained distinctions, and 13 credits in their final council exams.  Renovations to student hostels and provision of classrooms remain a priority plan.

Chaplaincy services include daily morning prayers, weekly services, monthly communion and patient counselling. A successful Christian book library is open to patients and to anyone on payment of a small annual fee. Membership of the library exceeds 150 Books available have been a source of Christian growth for many.

Hospital goals for the coming year include administration policy documents, computerisation of payroll, staff training, development of malaria bednet project, and further work on the water supply.  The nurse training school continues to move towards registered nurse training; for this, staff recruitment and building work is planned.  Other immediate building plans include kitchen renovations, new staff housing, a new chapel, and a replacement maternity ward.

THE MISSION CONTINUES

There is a danger that any history of Tumutumu Hospital can sound like a history of buildings. It is in fact a history of people. People who have served in many and varied capacities over the last 90 years. And people who have received healing of body, mind or spirit throughout the same period. In 1999 Tumutumu continues its challenge to be a leading Christian hospital in provision of health care. Its mission statement reminds the church of the calling to bear witness to the wholeness of the gospel of Jesus Christ
through the provision of quality, accessible and affordable health care to individuals, families, groups, and communities, as well as to train skilled health personnel.

Not everyone who serves the sick and needy can have their name recorded in the history of an instituion. Many hundreds have heard the call of Jesus Christ to love their sick neighbour.  God and His people are served as much by drivers, and watchmen, cooks, and cleaners, fundraisers, and intercessors, as by the more visible doctors and nurses.  It is because of the dedicated service of so many that PCEA Tumutumu Hospital can truly celebrate 90 years of bringing life and health to the community around.
Our Lord said, "I am the gate.  Whoever comes in by me will be saved; he will come in and go out and find pasture……. I have come in order that you might have life - life in all its fullness"

It is our prayer that PCEA Tumutumu Hospital would continue to be a gate to abundant life in the next millenium: a gate to new life in the maternity department, a gate to healing for those who are sick, a gate to salvation for all peoples and a gate to heaven itself. Through God's grace, the small service offered by individual staff, supporters, and church members will continue to bring true fullness of life to those who pass through.

DR. ELIZABETH BEVAN
Medical Officer in Charge in October of 1999
Writtien for the 90th Anniversary Celebration of Tumutumu Hospital