Page 22 - History of Arabian Mission 1926-1957

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Plano for the future include a program of nurses' training, and the
continuation und improvement of the training program for hospital helpers. It wao not until 1951 that on American nurse was available to be as­
signed to Muscat. She co-operated with Nurse Mary, the veteran who had by
then given thirty-six years of service, rejoicing in new equipment and in
The doctors who have worked in Bahrain, since 1926 are Dro. Dome, additional rooms for inpatients. The arrival of the Bell Telephone in Muscat
Thoms, Harrison, Storn, Nykerk, Heusinkveld. Mylrea, and Voss; Drs. Margaret was a great time-and labor-saver. When Jeanette Boersma had a difficult case
Hottschaefer (loaned from the Arcot Mission) Esther Barny (Ames), M. N. Tiffany
(Haenggi); nurses Cornelia Dalenberg, Mrs. G. D. Von Peursem, Mrs. Harold Storm, during the busy morning clinic, she had only to coll Dr. Thoms and he drove
Henrietta Oudemool, Jennie Bast, Roelphine Bakker, Harriet Wanrooy, Kellie the three miles to give his help. She wrote gratefully of the fine workers
Hekhuia, Hazel Wood, Margaret Schuppe (Pennings), Mrs. G. J. Holler, Marilyn she had on her staff, two of them baptized Christians.
Tania, Anne De Young, and Jeannette Veldman.
A young nurse, now called Fozia, Joined the staff after preliminary
training in India. She was an orphan who had been adopted in Bahrain in 1930
Muscat.
by Dr. Tiffany, and sent by her to India for her education. She seemed to be
happy to be back among her own people, and as Jeanette Boersma said: "It is
Medical work in Muscat is unique in the Mission, as it offers the only bread cast upon the waters that has returned to us."
modern medical facilities in the whole Sultanate of Oman. A great number of
Arabs are living as they have for centuries past, altogether untouched by the A new clinic building was completed in 1956* which gave much needed
West, oil, or the Gospel.
space and cleanliness in which to work. The daily attendance of a doctor
lifted the nurse's load both as to responsibility and numbers. Bigger and
It is still true, as a missionary wrote in 1987: "They are blessed better babies were produced in Muscat thank3 to prenatal care, multi-purpose
with a spiritual perception and receptiveness........and they have not been seared food, vitamins, and anti-malarial treatment. The old question arises - shall
and branded by contact with western civilization."
the small, intimate hospital be expanded and enlarged, to accommodate all who
are being educated to appreciate modern hospitalization? Bow can suitable
The medical work for women, founded as a smal 1 clinic by Mrs. Cantine staff be secured? The staff educational program under Jeannette Veldman was
early in the century, has continued in unbroken sequence. For many years it much appreciated, and it is hoped eventually to have a nursing school. How­
) was in charge of Dr. Sarah Hosraon who cared for the women of Muscat body and ever, under present social conditions it will be difficult to get girls to put
soul, and who made systematic tours in the surrounding country with both medi­ into training.
cal and evangelistic zeal. She likewise successfully supervised, in 1931* the
building of a new wing on what had now become a hospital and not merely a clinic, Another interesting development has been the repeated requests for the
when no man of the Mission was available to do the Job. Pediatrics wa3 part of nurse to attend sick cattle and sheep, with the result that nurses working in
the hospital program from early years. ,
Oman are now likely to add veterinary courses to their furlough studies.
Dr. Hosraon's main interest, however, was always in the people of the The men's medical work in Matrah, over the hills from Muscat, was re­
outlying districts. In 1935 she wrote: "My desire is to select by prayer some opened in 1927, after having been closed since the tragic accident which caused
important town that will give me access to a large area of villages, then to Dr. Sharon Thoms' death in 1913*
settle in that town and live a nonnal missionary life among the people." In
Sohar her Bible talks were listened to by Koran teachers, Judges, sheikhs The work was appreciated from the beginning and the community was in­ )
merchants, and Bedouin. She wrote, while on the coast north of Muscat: n We creasingly cordial. The rented quarters were soon replaced by a fine modern
are having more Bedouin women them I have ever had before. They come from hospital built in 1933, complete with a doctor's residence, A road now Joined
miles away along the coast and from inland Oman. Sometimes they walk three the twin cities of Muscat and Matrah, which facilitated the work in both
days and a half carrying a sick baby. They come at all hours of the day and places, and the presence of two doctors for part of the year made extensive
night." tours possible. Dr. Harrison wrote in 193^: "It has been a particular plea­
sure to gain the appreciation and warn friendship of the ruling Sultan and to
In 1938 Dr. Hosmon resigned from the Mission to undertake this pioneer see the hostility of the inland sheikhs diminish, so that opportunities for
type of work independently, first in Oman and later in Sharja, on the Trucial touring are opening in several directions."
Coast.
In 1937 he reported: "The Knox Memorial Hospital is coming to he
The woman'a hospital was henceforth carried on for many years by Nurse better known, and the stream of patients from the inland is increasing. One
Mary, the invaluable Indian nurse, trained in our Arcot Mission hospital at of the sheikhs accompanying Sheikh Isa invited us in for a medical visit, a
Madanapalle. She worked under the supervision of the doctor in Matrah, and most welcome invitation, We have improved our organization and now our out-
was a real colleague and true missionary, dedicated and untiring, Of her it door service reaches seventy-five miles in one direction and sixty in the
was written in 19^3: "Nurse Mary has put in another full year of active > other. One of our assistants spends three and a half days each week working
service in Muscat. She was due for a vacation this autumn hut decided she did among the date gardeners, A weekly dispensary is held on successive Thursdays
not need it and will go next summer. She has kept her large clinic open prac- in four different places."
tically every weekday in the year. Obstetrical patients have been Arabs,
Hindus, Baluchis, and Khojas." In 1939 Dr. Wells Th.ms, who had again followed in his father's foot-
steps, reported of his staff: "These men deserve the highest commendation.