History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo
History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo
History of Shan Churches in Burma 1861-2001 - Khamkoo
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Baptist mission among the <strong>Shan</strong> 72<br />
stages. The American Leprosy Missions gave f<strong>in</strong>ancial help to this work. It was reported <strong>in</strong> 1931 by Dr.<br />
Buker that a class <strong>of</strong> seven students study<strong>in</strong>g medic<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> KengTung Hospital. KengTung hospital was<br />
not only treat<strong>in</strong>g patients it also giv<strong>in</strong>g tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and education <strong>in</strong> medic<strong>in</strong>e to local people. When Dr.<br />
Buker went on furlough <strong>in</strong> 1940 and Dr. Lao Ht<strong>in</strong> Po took over the medical work. All hospital and<br />
school m<strong>in</strong>istries stopped dur<strong>in</strong>g World War II. All missionaries left for India by plane from<br />
NamKham. The Louis Hast<strong>in</strong>gs Memorial Hospital <strong>in</strong> KengTung was destroyed dur<strong>in</strong>g World Wart II.<br />
Dr. & Mrs. Keith Dahlberg arrived KengTung <strong>in</strong> 1957 and reopened the hospital <strong>in</strong> 1958. Dr. Dahlberg<br />
reported on August 31, 1958 that the cl<strong>in</strong>ic had handled (mostly <strong>in</strong> July and August) 1,690 patient,<br />
1,020 new patients and 14 m<strong>in</strong>or surgery done. KengTung Christian Hospital had grown to an<br />
<strong>in</strong>stitution equipped and staffed to handle major surgical, medical and obstetric cases. Dr. Dahlberg<br />
worked day and night twenty-four hours on call all days. In addition to his duties at the hospital he had<br />
to look after the leprosy work with a staff <strong>of</strong> two, one for Church work and the other for go<strong>in</strong>g round<br />
the 15 leper villages distribut<strong>in</strong>g medic<strong>in</strong>es and report<strong>in</strong>g conditions prevail<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the leper villages.<br />
Dr. Sal<strong>in</strong>e Aung Thaik, Ch<strong>in</strong> doctor, arrived <strong>in</strong> 1962 when Dr. Dahlberg was on furlough. It was<br />
reported <strong>in</strong> 1963 that the hospital had Christian (all Baptist but one Catholic) workers work<strong>in</strong>g under<br />
the guidance <strong>of</strong> BBC. The ma<strong>in</strong> aim and object was to show the love <strong>of</strong> Christ by giv<strong>in</strong>g help to the<br />
poor and needy and to go and give help to neglected areas. When Dr. Keith Dahlberg left <strong>in</strong> April 1962<br />
they felt lonely but with daily guidance and strength from God they were able to cont<strong>in</strong>ue the work.<br />
Due to greater m<strong>in</strong>istry to the needy and poor they were <strong>in</strong> f<strong>in</strong>ancial difficulty but God answered prayer<br />
and they found enough help to meet their need. Under care <strong>of</strong> the hospital were 18 villages <strong>of</strong><br />
segregated lepers looked after by only two workers who had to travel a vast area <strong>in</strong> the hilly part <strong>of</strong> the<br />
country. With the help <strong>of</strong> American Leprosy Mission Inc. they could distribute free anti-leprosy drugs<br />
and other general medic<strong>in</strong>es, support 3 to 4 leper students <strong>in</strong> primary and middle classes and 3 primary<br />
schools with one teacher each <strong>in</strong> 3 leper villages. Another source <strong>of</strong> help was the BBC Relief<br />
Committee. They had received blankets and cloth<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>Churches</strong> for the lepers. Though the hospital<br />
was a separate unit <strong>in</strong> KengTung field it was <strong>in</strong> no way <strong>in</strong>dependent but was <strong>in</strong> constant co-operation<br />
with <strong>Churches</strong> and Committees <strong>of</strong> the BBC and <strong>Burma</strong> Council <strong>of</strong> <strong>Churches</strong>. They received much cooperation<br />
and help from the field Secretary Rev. John Po as he was <strong>in</strong> touch with the people for more<br />
than 5 years. There were much to be done for the leprosy villages promot<strong>in</strong>g the co-operative work<br />
other than help<strong>in</strong>g with many gifts so that the strength and ability <strong>of</strong> the local <strong>Churches</strong> could be used to<br />
promote the life <strong>of</strong> the Church <strong>of</strong> that area. Though there had been progress <strong>in</strong> the past there was also<br />
much to worry about and much to pray for. As for the hospital the f<strong>in</strong>ancial situation was not very<br />
strong and daily <strong>in</strong>come to the hospital hardly meets the need to pay for salaries, ma<strong>in</strong>tenance and<br />
miscellaneous expenses and the purchase <strong>of</strong> medic<strong>in</strong>es for hospital use. As for the staff some had<br />
resigned and some would probably be leav<strong>in</strong>g at the end <strong>of</strong> the year after long service <strong>in</strong> this area. They<br />
needed more native people for this work. There was language difficulty as at least four different dialects<br />
were used <strong>in</strong> everyday work. Two nurse-aids had been selected for further tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g. Above all they<br />
needed more national doctors <strong>in</strong> this area, better still, people from this area who would like to serve this<br />
vast area.<br />
Statistics – January 1963 – July 1963<br />
80-bedded hospital; 1 National Doctor,<br />
Out patient department; 2,628 attendance,<br />
1 Missionary nurs<strong>in</strong>g super<strong>in</strong>tendent,<br />
In-patients; 321, Daily Census average; 11.6,<br />
1 Bus<strong>in</strong>ess Manager, 4 qualified nurses (<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g Midwives)<br />
Build<strong>in</strong>gs; 2 quarters, 4 Tra<strong>in</strong>ed nurses from Yedw<strong>in</strong>yegan, 1 nurses’ home<br />
2 houses for leprosy; 2 Aid nurses, 1 Lab/Xray assistant, 1 Cook; 5 Menials, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g night watchmen