No doubt there are many of us who would have loved to have been at the Centenary celebration at Mvumi this year; to feel the buzz, hear the drums, see the colour, taste the pillau… We hope that this newsletter will give you a flavour of what the celebrations were like and what they meant to the people in Mvumi. We were very pleased that Dr Simon and Laura Walton could deliver in person greetings from Friends of Mvumi, and, as part of that greeting, a cheque which has allowed the hospital to call a Jubilee and cancel the past debts of patients and students. Such a gesture was made possible by the generous legacy of William Burkitt. So we include an obituary to him. Finally, we end with some recent news from Mvumi, a report of another fund raising walk by the staff of Johnson & Johnson.

Stanley travelled near Mvumi in December 1874 to Uganda where he met Kabaka Mtesa I of Buganda. The king invited missionaries to come to his kingdom and Stanley passed this invitation back to England. The Church Missionary Society (CMS) took up the challenge. In order to reach Uganda they chose a route from the coast near Zanzibar across central Tanzania and on to Lake Victoria.

Mpwapwa was established as a ‘service station’ and soon became as a base for local missionary enterprise as well. On 1 October 1892 John Henry Briggs arrived to assist the work at Mpwapwa, a young man of 25 years and with the qualifications of a nurseryman. In 1899, Briggs together with Rev Fincher, made long trips in Ugogo and ‘rediscovered a waiting field for the Mission in the well-populated districts of Ibwijili, Msomalo, Mvumi and Nyambwa. Briggs returned to Mvumi in February of 1900 to investigate further, since CMS in London had given permission to build a temporary house at a cost not to exceed £100. He was favourably received by the chief and people and "they expressed themselves as ready to receive us as teachers, come to be taught, and send their children to school.

In 1900 the new Diocese of Mombassa was created and Bishop Peel set out to visit to the German East Africa part of his Diocese. He walked 800 miles in seventy-two days and was impressed by what he saw. After a conference at Mamboya with all 10 missionaries, he went with Briggs to Mvumi. The Bishop reported ‘From April 25th to May 4th Mr Briggs and I were on the march in Ugogo. We reached Mvumi. … We camped on a knoll about a mile distant from the Chief’s tembe. Chief Masenha soon visited us. He offered a large piece of the knoll to the Society if we would build there and teach the tribe. We could see no better site for miles around, and with some misgivings agreed to put up a trial house. We desired still higher ground. Hills banked up the horizon on all sides. Millet fields decked the plain, the stalks of the grain being from 10ft to 15ft high. The tembes were quite hidden by the little forest of corn-blades. A dry river-bed tortuously broke the surface of the open piece of plain at the foot of our knoll. Fresh water, good (?) and salt water abounded. Within three quarters of a mile were some open stretches yielding salt. Trees and bushes, save some thorny ones were very scarce. Stone lay to hand. Two or three miles away was limestone. All things carefully considered we turned the first sod of the excavations for the foundations of the new mission house at this post, fifty miles beyond Kisokwe. The great number of people under Masenha, so friendly to us, induced us to thus settle down. Twenty-thousand people must be within easy reach, and are willing to listen to us.’

The year of 1900 was a big year for John Henry Briggs; not only was he given the job of pioneering a new station, but it was also the year he married a fellow missionary Rose Colsey. They had to walk to Zanzibar to be married at the British Consulate on 27th October, and then walk back, arriving where they started a whole two months later for the religious ceremony! Henry Cole, the best man, wrote: ‘The first English wedding in Usagara took place on the 23rd of last month (Nov) when Mr Briggs and Miss Colsey were joined together in the bonds of holy matrimony. The Natives were greatly exercised in their minds as to the amount of dowry paid by the bridegroom, and when told that the alliance was simply a matter of mutual love, without any commercial signification, they were both surprised and amused.’

Mr and Mrs Briggs left Mamboya for Mvumi straight away, arriving on 6th December 1900 to take up residence in the not quite finished house. The Briggs did not found the mission at Mvumi alone however. There were about 20 or 30 people from the community at Mpwapwa who moved with them. They came as apprentice teachers and evangelists; as porters and builders; as farmers and livestock keepers and houseworkers. For Briggs they were people whom he knew and could depend on, people who knew their work and would be loyal to him, people who were for the gospel. The group

of people who came must have had considerable trust in Briggs, to be prepared to leave what they knew and where they were known and start somewhere new. Briggs looked after them, helped them build houses and pay taxes, and paid them for work done. There was already quite a bit of inter-relationship between the mission people, and in the next generation that was to be even more so, as their children inter-married, staying within the changed Christian community. Even today the descendants of this new tribal group, who were under the chieftainship of Briggs, are referred to as ‘Watu wa Briggs’ (Brigg’s people).

The Jubilee sherehe (celebration) was excellent. I walked there and Martin (husband) went in the car. The walk was very good. In Mpwapwa we had a quick historical tour and were shown the graves of some of the early missionaries - a bit sobering really. Then we all had supper and there was a service which began at 9 pm and ended at 11 pm. We finally got to bed at 11.30 pm. The women slept on the floor of a room in the pastor's house - I don't know where the men slept. We were 7 women in total out of 34 walkers.

We got up and started walking at 4 am and walked as far as a small village, where we were given tea and bread at about 9 am. That was the first 14 miles. Then we pressed on and kept walking until we reached the village of Igandu, quite near the railway line. We got there at 4 pm. People were really tired and very hot, having walked through the heat of the day. About a mile outside the village the mamas came out with their drums and they escorted us into the village. One of my Msalato students lives there, so I was especially pleased to see him. By the time we reached the village we had done 27 miles. The villagers gave us porridge and later, rice and beans. There were lots of introductions and various people talked about what we were doing. There were choirs of children - everyone was very pleased to see us and to join in.

We slept on the floor of a classroom in the village primary school. At 2.30 am we got our wake up call when the Landrover horn sounded (the emergency back up vehicle) and we were off again. This time we walked 4 hours in the dark. By this stage people were feeling a bit weary and footsore but no one was prepared to give up. I thought of how it must have been for Briggs and the others who did not have expensive walking boots, factor 25 sun cream and people in each village waiting to welcome them.

By dawn we had reached Handali and were well on the way to Mvumi. We met with Bishop Kusenha on the road and he was really pleased to see us. We were supposed to have stopped to have a cup of tea at the final village before getting to Mvumi, but as we were a bit ahead of schedule, they were not ready for us and so we pressed on. We got to Mvumi at about 11 am and it took us about 40 minutes to walk through the village to the stage. There were choirs and youth all singing and drumming and they escorted us on the way. The stage was set up at the top of the playing field next to the church and we were welcomed and congratulated by 6 bishops ! (4 from DCT and Bishop Alpha Mohammad and retired Bishop Chitemo from Morogoro). They shook our hands and we went up on to the stage. We sang a song that we had been singing quite a lot on the way and there was a great atmosphere. People really remembered the reason for the walk and there was tremendous thankfulness for the first people who brought the gospel. After a cup of tea at the seminar centre, I went to find the Waltons and to have a good wash and sit down. It was 47.5 miles (77 kms) in total, over two days, with approximately 7 hours sleep! A bit of an endurance test but worthwhile and it has taught me a bit more about the giants, like Briggs and Rose his wife, whose shoulders we stand on !

In the Sunday service we were all given certificates by the Bishop! In the afternoon service the bishop introduced various elders who had been baptised by Briggs. Bishop Alpha preached. In the Sunday service there were lots of greetings, also Rev Mbogoni ('Daudi' of Jungle Doctor fame) was up on the stage talking about his memories of the past. There was a wonderful Mother's Union Choir from Zambia who visited as well. Really international. It was actually very well organised and kept remarkably well to time. The bishop was on sparkling form and there was great thankfulness for the work of the hospital in particular.

Though arrangements started a bit late, selected participants worked around the clock and were all out to make sure they had done everything they were assigned to do.

St Peter's Old Church was decorated with a specially remarkable photographs and history of the coming of Christianity to Mvumi. Special dress for the Jubilee (this included a special kitenge, T- shirt and a cap) and special cards which were sold to raise funds for the Jubilee. Dr Simon Walton read a speech written by Friends of Mvumi. He had just arrived with a fat amount of money from FOM for Mvumi hospital to assist in paying debts which were left by patients and students. Eleven million T.schillings were contributed. The huge congregation shouted with words of LOVE.

Guests from CMS England, Australia, New Zealand and other Anglican Dioceses in Tanzania etc delivered their greetings to mark the beautiful day. A group of more than 150 Christians- young and old, marched the whole way long from Chisokwe in Mpwapwa to Mvumi. They were greeted by cheers of waiting christians at Mvumi where Bisop Godfrey Mdimi Mhogolo officiated the opening of the Jubilee on the 30th June 2000. The celebrations were officially closed on the 2nd July 2000.

Veteran Bishop- Evangelists, Rt Rev. Alfa Mohamed of the Diocese of the Rift Valley and Rt Rev. Chitemo (retired) were stars to the spiritual prayers which turned many believers to tears. Many participants were strengthened by the preachings. Choirs from Dodoma, Mvumi, women’s groups (UWAKI) entertained throughout all the 3 days. Another striking scene was that of 40 women sisters of the Anglican church from Zambia who travelled the whole way long to come to the Jubilee. The group beautifully sang and danced in jubilation to the appreciation of the onlookers. Many Christians received Christ afresh as their personal saviour. It was a remarkable opportunity and many missionaries from England, New Zealand and Australia commended the occasion. About 50 missionaries attended.

Bishop Mhogolo stood firm during the occasion and prayed for all missionaries from the start to the present. He carefully mentioned them one by one both foreigners and local people who participated productively towards the church and the church institutions, especially Mvumi hospital. Key persons prayed for ranged from past Bishops to the present ones, past pastors to the present ones, past doctors to the present ones. Special attention was made when the Bishop mentioned the name of the late Dr Isseme who died this year after delivering commendable services to Mvumi hospital for many years.

As many of you will have heard, during the latter part of 1999 Friends of Mvumi was bequeathed a legacy following the death of Dr William Burkitt. Not until earlier this year did the magnitude of the legacy become clear. In his will Dr Burkitt had left Mvumi Hospital over £59,000 (inc. tax and interest). After much deliberation and consultation with Mvumi Hospital the committee has allocated this money to a wide variety of projects and endeavours, which we are sure are in keeping with the spirit and intentions of Dr Burkitt. A major part of the legacy is going towards the renovation of the Clinical Officers Training school and will bear the name of Dr Burkitt (This work has already started). The hospital will be able purchase another vehicle and install a new phone. Security and lighting in the hospital will be improved. Long awaited repairs to the drainage of the hospital buildings and nursing school toilets will be implemented - much to the relief of the nurses! Lastly, but not least, in this year of Jubilee some of the money has enabled the hospital to proclaim a jubilee for long standing patient and student debts.

Obituary: Dr William R. Burkitt by Penny Foster

William Burkitt gave much of his life to Africa, and it held a major place in his heart. His father was one of the first two English doctors in Nairobi, and in spite of the very individualistic and eccentric way in which he conducted his practice, it was very successful. Sadly, William's mother died while he was quite young and there is no doubt that this loss influenced his character profoundly. He was schooled in England, and spent his holidays with aunts in Co. Antrim.

He qualified in medicine at Barts., in London, and in 1948 found a job in the Overseas Food Corporation (the Groundnut Scheme) which took him to what is now Tanzania. In 1952 - 53 the ill conceived Groundnut Scheme was run down and William transferred to mission work, and a job which was very near to his heart, the medical education of Africans. He took charge of the Lutheran Mission's training school for Medical Assistants at Bumbuli. He established excellent relations with his students, took them walking in the Usambara Mountains and set up lasting friendships.

William then had a spell in mission hospitals in Uganda working in Mengo Hospital in Kampala,and at Ngora in the North West. It was at this time that he made attempts to pass the final FRCS exam, but had to be content with the Diploma in Ophthalmology, a speciality well suited to his meticulous working methods. It led to an Ophthalmic appointment in Nairobi, and to what was perhaps his crowning achievement.

William quickly realised the disadvantage of centralising all the specialised ophthalmological work in Nairobi. Very much of great value could be done at a rural level by doctors and staff with limited specialised training. He organised a mobile team to visit chosen centres where patients with eye conditions could be collected either for treatment on the spot or transported to Nairobi in the relatively few cases that needed the resources of the big centre. The success of this project inspired many similar ones.

He met Elizabeth, who became his wife, in Nairobi, and they moved to England in the early 80's. They settled near Hereford, probably so that William could be near the Welsh Marches and his beloved hills. He worked in ophthalmic clinics over a wide area until retirement.

He never sought high-income employment and it is probable that much of the money with which he was so unfailingly generous came indirectly from his fathers Nairobi practice. Mvumi's work would certainly have met all his criteria of value, and it is good to know that they will remember him with gratitude.

On Sunday 7^th May 2000 a group of friends and colleagues who work together at Johnson and Johnson Medical took part in our second sponsored walk to raise funds for Mvumi Hospital. This was the repeat of a walk that took place on a similar Sunday 12 months previously, but on this occasion the sun shone and the miles zipped by. Our walk took place along the Pennine way from our workplace to a rather splendid pub called the Listers Arms at Malham in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. The route along the Pennine way takes in some fabulous scenery and with the landlord at the Listers Arms opening the pub especially early for the group we had an added incentive to complete the walk.

A group of just less than twenty of us raised a total of £1,995 with some of the walkers individually raising hundreds of pounds for Mvumi. The Johnson and Johnson family of Companies have made a number of donations of surgical instruments, IV catheters, and microtouch gloves to the Hospital, but shipping these useful items to Mvumi is a large financial commitment for the friends. The majority of the money raised will be used to help defray some of these costs with a smaller amount paying for the completion of Robert Mtachi’s Medical records training course. Robert is a local Mvumi boy and we decided to raise the money needed to pay for him to become qualified as a records administrator. Most of the money needed for this was raised at a raffle held at our Christmas dinner and the balance came from this year’s walk.

We have found that a sponsored walk is a relatively easy way to raise money because the route picked, and the company on the day can make it a really memorable occasion. If you chose your route with care considering carefully the ability of those taking part, and you have an added aim in mind (in our case dinner in a pub) it is possible to raise a really substantial amount of money. We found that it is perhaps easier to have many people raising a small amount rather than trying to motivate a few to raise a lot. Those who take part develop a real interest in the charity and are then keen to help raise further funds in the future. The shared sense of purpose and feeling of achievement is also wonderful.

• Dr Isseme, head of Mvumi Eye Department, sadly died 11.6.00 following a prolonged illness.
• District Commissioner says Dodoma rural district needs 25,000 tons of food aid in year 2000.
• Forecasts predict poor rains again with late start in November/December and improving to average later in the season.
• Mvumi Hospital to increase charges for investigations and drugs for the first time in four years!
• Farmers advised to sow drought resistant varieties again in year 2000.

Phase 2 of SMITN (insecticide treated nets) project has been approved by DfID and will allow the marketing of subsidised bed nets and insecticide to go nation-wide. Mvumi, one of the original project areas will continue to receive subsidised mother & child nets until end 2001. Mvumi has sold over 8000 nets and 9500 packets of insecticide since 1998 and there has been a dramatic reduction in child malaria admissions from villages with good net coverage. Though not necessarily attributable to bed nets, overall childhood malaria admissions in the hospital have reduced by 30%, but those from Handali and Ndebwe with good bed net coverage have decreased by a massive 87% and 75% respectively!

Mvumi Web Site to move - www.mvumi.org goes live!

To make the Mvumi Hospital web site even more accessible we have secured the domain name www.mvumi.org. The web site is now operational although there are still some bugs, but please be patient - normal service will resume shortly! Please make a note of the new URL and pass it on to your friends! If you have any interesting news stories about fund raising or Mvumi Hospital which you would like to submit to the web site please send a copy to me at www@mvumi.org.

The Society of Friends of Mvumi needs a new treasurer from January 2001. Are you able to help, or do you know someone who can? If you know anyone who lives in the United Kingdom, has experience of book keeping or accountancy and might be interested in this post please contact David McKelvey (Secretary) by email at www@harefield.nthames.nhs.uk

Copies of the Mvumi Video "A Child Called Sunday" are still for sale £8, and greetings cards 60p each (a great alternative Christmas card). Please send your requests to the secretary, David McKelvey (please order by email at www@harefield.nthames.nhs.uk). A charge at cost will be made for mailing outside of the United Kingdom.