HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
AIC Githumu Mission Hospital (GMH) came to be established with the spread of Africa Inland Church through Africa Inland mission (AIM) in Kenya and East Africa in 1895. In 1902 some young American Friends visited Kinyona (a village in this locality) from Kijabe. This marked the events that resulted to the establishment of Githumu Mission and spread of the Africa Inland Church.
In 1903, Dr. Blackburn and his wife Virginia arrived at Kijabe and moved to start a Nursing work at Kaimosi. They were part of the team of missionaries who had earlier settled at Kijabe.
In the year 1906 the first team arrived at Kinyona village but latter set up mission work at Githumu which stands to date.
In around 1914 to 1917 they started a Mission station at Githumu and in the same year, 1917, Will Kendal and Lilian Elder arrived to expand Medical work at Githumu Hospital. In early years mobile clinic could be carried out under trees. Later in 1920, a grass thatched structure was established to serve the people near Githumu AIC Church. The wards that were used those years still stands next to the Church. Some of the missionary children born during these early days who could not withstand the conditions died and were buried next to the church
We have structures that still show the age of the hospital, like “the old wards) where longest staying Missionary – Will Kendal and his wife Lilian lived. The Administration block was the hostel for patient attendants and nurses training in the earlier years. Many of the wards have undergone renovations e.g. Maternity ward and wards 1 & 11 & III by Alice Yoder from (U.S.A) being done in year 2012.
Alice Yoder was born at Githumu but later went to USA and she used to visit the hospital where she donated the generator, Borehole and Computer network. Read more about Alice here. She died June 2018 in the USA.
Our link with Alice Yoder, CHAK, AICHM, Cure International and other organizations have been part of our growth.
The hospital is the pride of Africa Inland Church in the region and the concern and support is outstanding. The patients depend largely on the facility since the charges are low and the services are available.
The dream to start a Nursing School is a big wish and so that we can expand the hospital to accommodate all kinds of patients and handle more diagnosis.