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11/9/1954 - Kenya’s Medical Training School by Robert F. Gray

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS RFG Kenyas Medical Training School Mr Walter SRogers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York N Y One ienvisage African doctor mature qualiied respected preaching practicing preventi disease nurse uniformed reliant false mOdeSty bestowing fruits ender Thu memoranda histou medical trainin written Dr Wakins Pitclff0rd former Medial Officer Charge Trainin Africans This vision future fully shared Dr nargreaVes present incipal edical Training School comonly spesof T years hence omorror years greave plans today terms prodUC qualified African doctors though realize decades accomplish But without visions energetic planning generation The history Medical Training years first tudents havin enrolled Prior training African medical ailiies carri anrof goverent mission hospitals using different methods unified aching syllabus The results rather haphazd trainingAfrcan nursing called dressers satis handful Medical Officers realized would forskilled ricanmedical OrkerS could longer practidal training hospitals alone Plans eentral medic training institution inNirobier firstdranup official tapeand heSltationde layed action years Mr Jphe Dibo hepresen SeniorAriCan Instructor Sch0ol first mitted studentin1935 Atthattimetheoriginali5 RFG I Harvreayes Principal edical Trainin School Smythe Chief Sister Tutor dents increased During hislong connection School student Junior Instructor Senior Instructor Japhet student present watched other important changes appoinmen staff European Sister Tutors admission African girls students Japhet small Luo village Lake ictoria senior pagan polygamist father His first contact civilization hired Church Tissionary ociety their flock sheep According story missionaries recognized superior scholastic ability entered mission school However fther fearing would tribe withdrew brought later tfrican pastor prevailed father objections provided funds seyer years study utheno Secondary School Nyanza Province In Japhet entered Native IIospital Kisumu dresser edical Training chool Nairobi recommendation Kisumu ledical Officer Despite incomplete secondary education stood class throughout years medical training after gradu J unior Instructor His fatherts suspicions since allayed pagan proud medical Jphe brought brothers Nairobi arranged technical training expense mason other driver In theeiy School rican Medi I nsructor strenuous Japhet instruction nursing lectures anato physiolo English aritetic other subjects addition daily inspections Native Hospital hichhas super seded modern King George Hospital orking instructor special training orthopedics again orked assistt He footballe memorable occasion Inter Terr toril soccermachesinUgandainchargeoftheKenyate omhisfirst contact Ch England staunch Christian inflenced Seven brothers become Christians He organizer resentSecreaofthe Christian Union towhich ofhestudents belongs_ spends_ arranging prominen speakers KratheregulSnndaymeetings Abogt95ofthe students areChristi anjaphet feels Christian faith almost indispensible medic hOugh reSpect Mhedan Hussein Abdulla Junior Instructors Under admits Mohaedan sudents bfairly udged The African Instructor easier these staff Briish nurses special qualifications theleCtUi ngandpracticalinstructionin nursing Japhetnowhas assistants Cary Ofthe routine inspection duties His erience school problem mainly superviso discipline duties H aomarried Lu Ciefs daughter children The School train Africans medical iries grades employed Kenya Goveren The important officially Assistant Nurse Grade I called hetraditional ospital Assistant 3udents qualify adeare expected somethin about aspects medicine hegeneral practitioners The other grades special these include Coounders phmacists Laboratory Assistants Orho pedic Assstants Radioaphers Nurses Grade II called Kea Regis eedNs At smaller training centers Nairobi_ special courses given Health Inspectors Entomological sistant idwives Health Visitors other minor positions Hospital sistants Nses receive their training theMedical Training School King George Hospa thespeCializedades other students School trainingat otherinstitutionsof Kenya iedica partment About students residence School including rican girls In addition Asian girls their nurses training School actually Asian Hospital The course Hospital Assistants dividedinto alternate periods lectures classroom studies School practical osPita The Iincipa School Dr Hargreaves Sister Tutors teahing nrses Britaindo lectUring Some advanced courses given cialists Ilospital staff The Bursar Shorter seconded Royal Army Medical Corps African RFG instructors theteachingo The syllabus still under revision stands about courses lectures given during The important subjects hygiene anatomy physiology theory nursing medicine surgery diagnosis treatment nursing specialties It found necessary supplement students academic education courses English arithmetic The students trainees officially called dormitories school grounds common dinin During their training shillings about dollars month shillings board Their whole centered round A library re_creation during Schoo leisure hours favorite sport football which students participate An active troop Senior Scouts musters football which several championships Everyone grees general conduct sudents exceptionally There virtual absence rough horse which usually expected students similar institutions Ameria Europe sexual offenses students belong Christian Union programs discussions edifying natUre There societies drama debatino The girls receive instruction their quadrangle dormitories under control Lady Supervisor For recreation depend mostly seuing knitting other handicrafts recently become interested debating society An occasional dance recrea The authorities friendships formed School between girls result marriages later remains whether large scale The social position medicaily trained woman which raises special problems community established African society In earlier African female nurses acquired reputation sexual laxity there little delinquency among present female students To admitted trainin ospital Assistant candidate Kenya African Preliminary Famination K A P E which represents level education which expected Of twelve Britain However African students usually K A P E seventeen eighteen mature their standard education Would indicate The corses Compounders Laboratory Technicians other special require candidates Kenya African School Examination possess Cambridge School Ce tificate These correspond level fourteen years Britain Students formerly admitted directly ledical Training secondary school required serve apprenticesh dresser District Provincial Ilospital before adnission Dr H rgreaves Chief Sister Tutor Smythe inter candidates re0ommended admission District Medical Officers For purpose periodic safaris Districts Colony At their traini tiospital Assistants given final exaninations being School other Nurses wives Council Kenya Students assigned Dressers other lower grades their ining zased The successful graduates after serving short period George VI posted ltospital Assistants District Hospitals throughout country Then least RFG A edical Lecture George Washinon Kamorinyaung Turkana Student seven years perform different nursing medical taskS Und super ViSion doctors European nurses hospifal staffls first H ospital Assistants records Training chool Up grading course cliniaal nursing emphasized This entitles themo weara their shoulder sraps again posted District spials advanced duties Finally after years saisfaco h0spial service eligible ading course attie Sehdol Those whome grade promoted Medical ASsSagt shoulder stripe qualified include being charge Rura Healh Ceners Dr Uargreaves aissio chool postin raduttes hospitals Th parts Ienya equal nbers Asmight majorty Students advanced tribdS The return asbdiCal sistants DiStrictsor Tri Where serve fUnctions countU detor EUrope This fully accomplished studen tribes Tribehas provided greatest sudens other ribesare tching Following example Jsphet Dibo large number Luo Province enrolled perhapsweighted theLUomake excellen medicalworkers In ttempt interviewed number studets survey sUden cross section I different tribes RF6 Harun Rashid Asian Student Nurse AfriCan Moslem Student The fourth student Jeremiah Gichuru perhaps typical Kikuyu contingent One children Christian rents Dagoretti Kiambu District Jeremiah received primary secondary education Church Scotland Mission schools Ilis interest medicine first aroused secondary school through taking course first member St John Ambulance Brigade He entered ledice Training School which apprenticeship hospital dresser required speaks English firmly andappears assured His scholastic record pleased choice profession He plays school football member Christian Union Assistant coutmaster prefect dormitory students under After uation March intentions acquire advanced medical training In speaking Mau movement states family involved himselfhas secluded School since before emergency But there tinge evasiveness conversation subject The neigbors traditional enemies Kikuyu These tribes whose names known Kenya differ greatly their Wysof The Msai pastoral nomads roaming their flocks overthe plins Kenya Tanganyika follo seasonal changes psture watering places The Kiluyu sedentary inhbit wooded ridges which extend massifs Mr Kenya Abedares KikU culture seemed highly receptive N estern Civilization ingedLon E frica increasing strength early century One The Iasai remained heled Training chool parateiy aloof tothi claytheir little affected Europeh contact Nevertheless several Masai enrolled chool these Jes eitei portabi eaSai house accustomed amenities James sfatherw S erina assistanta profession attracts cattie loving asaiand Instructor Ngong School while Jes still small Thus sequestered tribe received standard primary seconda education through Form II Like other students K A P E filled forvz indicating desire future career His first choice enter Alliance High chool hiher acade training earlier school recorddd requirements appointment So granted second choice medical rining after months apprentice dresser King George VI Hospital entered chool Jes andhesitant conversation partly through sincere lacks urbanity ofJeremi Thistallrough lookingyouthwanstoreturnand people after finishing course The Mohaedan sudent chool bears Arabic ltarun Rashid Digo coastal village Waa about eightmiles south ttarun first taste education village Koranic school where years learning verses loran writing characters board charcoal He claim knowabic addition native Digo anage speaks excellen Englis Swahili After atendin government prima school admit Catholic Uission seconda schooI theunder sandi vould instruction catechism This versed C atholic doctrine remained oslem He fourth aduate weeks hisstudies enjoyed student suffered discrimination account religion The serious inconvenience servingthe sacred month Radan during which Moslemse obliged daily This would sometimes leave afternoon Huns bition bring enlighteen people chcraft superstition which feels spiit Islam Chrisianity Two themor prinitivetribesofKeaare thearakwetandTurkna The Medc Training chool student tribe The Maraket arerepresented Jacob anzho isalmost irelytheproduct ofmission training Born Christian faler teacher therican Inland ission encour apply Jacob never deeply embue traditional culture chRracteristic agrowing young people ofhemselve Africans raher ribesmen ntras George Tashin Turkana student nomadic household Aby ssinian border wives father All educaion hasbeen govern schools Through influence teachers Kapenria Se conda School applied forre iious instruction C M S mission baptizedaChris George likes medical training difficnly xamnations He stndents glasses His English pronunciation difficult understand conversat somezhateratc Ilis instructors found eccenric I Ie tkenWashington middle since entering chool butapparently tothe enthusia adinoferi canIii The future reveal whether sparRof scien geniuS unusual personality The sudentsa uniformed dresses coonly referred One these KiRUyu Stotly level headed persons differs those Kiku Bo Christian prents educted Church cotland Uission encoure RF6 father study medicine engrossed picture herself pioneer among African women Ida ibeke Kamba girly altoget different manner appearance She pretty slender graceful figure Iler voice instinctively employs feminine wiles conversation She passed K AoP E achak Secondary chool applied admission theedical Training School advice Christian family Her father hospital dresser years retired country savings cultivates shamba Her oldest sister teacher The other sister studied iedical Training School graduated Although I sistr would endowed Ida charms In School became pregnant final examination maternity before beating which would disqualified Ida Mbeke first She married African clerk I Ida morning passing Barclays Bank She simply neatly dressed street clothes except absence lipstick taken smart American Negro girlo The seven Asian girls taking nurses training represent differ religions Itindu Ismailia Sikh Catholic Seychelle Islands Balvander Dewana Sikho Iter father Punjab railway employee believer education progress emancip ation women He sister eacher encouraged Balvander studying nursing The situations other Asian girls typical Their families resisted different degrees outside uences girls inclinations prevailed family prejudices Balvander possesses Cambridge School Certificate She speaks standard British English hardly trace accent friendly quick witted conversation She might stand symbol progress rising generation Kenya Asians In known societies undoubtedly since beginning human history medical practitione apart other people In primitive societies sometimes assigned privileged Status usually credited possessing supernatural powers techniques Vith civilization science medical people investigate human manipulate which ordinary people barred taboos ignorance For common people contemporary America there tinge uncanniness about medical science In societies which organized caste principle natural medicine esoteric knowledge performing touching organs excretions which imure other contexts should become involved caste system The caste society excellence India there certain elements imported Eas frica entered 9roblems ledical Training RFG Until recent nursing forbidden Asian girls ffect nursing constituted inferior caste which other races mightbelong Indians Such attitude clearly incompatible social ideal which envisages System medical service Asian population level prevails America Europe No acceptable vision future multi racial Kenya could include system which nursing Asians European perhaps African nurses Accordingiy caste being broached social contradiction resolved The seven Asian girls taken nursing develop ments inter racial harmony which brighten pessimistic picture contemporary Kenya nother caste problem virtually solved concerns hospital sweeperS In parts East Africa cleaning public lavatories latrines special workers called sweepers Such regarded impure caste concept would ordinary workers The sweeper introduced British India As workmen during building Uganda Railway Although tribes taboos regarding touching human ement notion sweepers indigenous African because public latrines almost unknown tribal society However institution became firmly established accepted In hospitals sweepers required cleaning urinals lavatories At King George VI Iospital sweepe rscame theEmbutribewho closelyrelated Kikuyu involved Mau movement During Operation Anvil great police sweep Nairobi thirty these eepers suddenly taken being implicated Mau As ossible replace sanitary arrangements Hospital badly disorganized By heroiceffort theMatronpersuadedenough dressers andHospitalAssistants eanbed pansand urinals forhospital routinetocontinue butmany medical rsonnel still refused sweepers there legal forci themo As result crisis Dr Ilargreaves inserted clausein contract signed bystudents entering theMedical Training School requiring themtoundertake ofworkwhichisnormally expected European nurses Except students turned refus clause accepted hardly murmur Thus indirect result ofMau doubt contrary intention another caste custom which tended separate races swept The Mauon medical training always fortunates though students graduates Scl because ofIau activities A1togetherthirty quali fiedItits ssistant Compounde Orhopedic Assistants arrested mostof eployed Ifing Geore VI anyere picked secur forcesduring OperationAnvil senttode tentioncps oneterrorist murder atronasdiscovered Hospital security organization under Dr Hargr Shorter anberof hoolgraduates capted Since emergency thirteen students havebeen through involvement Mau Ifind itdifficul toconjectureas thepsycho logical state mindof students Hospital Assistants after savage scene Mau Mau butno information questionseems avail Dr Ito rgreaves states ultimate School production fully qualified doctors races Although official decision necessary stage seems tacit support Kenya Med Department Some other Nairobi doctors howev Challenge medical school Kenya Iakerere Medical School Uganda which serves British East Africa growing rapidly improving quality Dr HargreaVes answers foreseeable future Uganda African state Makerere essentially African University By contrast generally agreed Kenya multi racial state chaos The medical needs Kenya differ those Uganda served fully accredited multi racial medical school Moreover points teaching potential government private doctors Nairobi sufficient support medical school goingto waste present In regard timetable accomplishing Dr Hargreaves speaks optimistically period twenty years though admits longer It clear great ground still remains In conversations students I impressed dportance langu difficulty With exceptions students homes which native language spoken received their early schooling vernacular Most studied English years prior entering ledical Training School Their speech often delightfully archaic picturesque reflects school reading rather habitual practice English conversation Even Japhet Dibo betrayed excessively dependent classical literature English diction recently began serious student words Ladies gentlemen It criticism educated Africans absorb textbook information repeat perfectly examinations parrot fashion judgement knowledge successful professional My observations entirely substantiate Perusal large number final examination papers revealed ritten English students Of acter their spoken English The other point criticism answered innumerable government missionary doctors testify uneducated African dressers exceptionally skilful gentle their treatment In short gretest educational needs filled understanding English language level permit concepts basic sciences manipulated Sound medical thinking requires medical language ealth technical terms having precise meanings To command vocabulary fluently implies feeling structure history English language eduaation designed impart earliest years African students difficulty acquiring present Examples linguistic fusions could cited numbers The recent holer comes paper Ciliated epithelium found gents urinary tract meaning course genitourinary tract As present education policy Kenya bears fruit succeeding classes students doubt Englisho Dr Hargreaves transition medical training medical education Received New York II Robert F