100 years of living a man’s dream
KJP is taking forward the legacy of Dr Gordon Roberts who set up the hospital in Jaiaw in 1922 to serve locals
Dr H. Gordon Roberts Hospital along the busy Jaiaw road is hard to miss. The name on the main building peeps through the trees lining the inside of the boundary wall and a part of the old Assam-type structure reluctantly effuses old-time elegance.
The hospital, which was initially christened Welsh Mission Hospital, completed 100 years on March 25. Named after its founder and popularly known as Roberts Hospital among citizens, the establishment is the result of one man’s conviction and a group of citizens’ relentless work. Over decades, the hospital has not only bettered its services but has overcome several hurdles to become an institution in itself.
The hospital building was built in 1917 by Dr Roberts with residual funds collected for the earthquake relief in 1897. He later prodded the Welsh church to donate funds to develop the hospital and his appeal was met with overwhelming responses.
As the institution took shape in the beginning of the 20th century, several local medical experts joined the journey to concretise Roberts’ dream. Among the prominent names were Dr Drin Singh Hynniewta, Dr Orientcey Roy, Dr Romily Basaїawmoit, Dr Frank Niangti, Dr EC Syngkon, Dr Jerisim Dkhar, Dr SP Sengupta and Dr SS Sharma, to name a few. Many women too dedicated their lives in serving the people and it is their hard work at the ground level that made the hospital a success story. The notable among them were Lesibon, Derila Paley, Estella Nongsteng and Iwelibon Tiewtaby.
The old Assam-type structure, which has been maintained till date, was built by Dr RA Hughes to provide accommodation to the serving nurses. The hall in the building still exists. “It may last for a hundred years and has met the much felt need of the Hospital. Prayer and other meetings are held in this hall which also serves as a recreation centre for the staff of the hospital,” wrote EH Pakyntein in the hospital’s promotional brochure, The Khasi Hills Presbyterian Hospital, in 1972.
Roberts Hospital is run by the Khasi-Jaintia Presbyterian (KJP) Church and it solely depends on donations from well-wishers and funds collected by members and trustees. Periodically, government institutions provide material support to the hospital via MPLAD/MLA schemes.
The old managing committee was substituted by the Hospital Governing board following recommendations of the Expert Committee in August 2016, and as per, the amended MOA of the hospital, said Kyrsoibor Pyrtuh, former Presbyterian reverend who served as one of the members of the newly constituted governing body from 2017 to March 2019.
The new managing body was comprehensive, consisting of professionals from different fields — medical, finance, law to social work. “Interestingly, the amendments (of 2017) also cut down the numbers of representation from the clergy and had a working formula to nominate four members below the age of 50 and four should be female out of the 18-odd members,” informed Pyrtuh.
However, the memorandum was amended again during the KJP Assembly Special Business Session in February 2020, resulting in the undoing of the “comprehensive, progressive and inclusive structures” of the board.
“Today, the primary members of the Presbyterian Church who are experts in various fields and who can immensely contribute are mere co-opted members waiting to be called as and when the need arises and also to be removed when their expertise are no longer required,” rued Pyrtuh.
The hospital has had its share of challenges in the past few years, especially when many senior doctors left in 2016.
Reverend SS Majaw, the chairman of the hospital governing body, said it was a difficult time as there were no senior medical personnel and the number of patients was also dropping.
“But we overcame the hurdle, and now, we have well-equipped wards,” he added.
There are other persistent problems too. According to Pyrtuh, the challenges are aplenty. “Till date, the hospital through the KJP Assembly is engaging in fund drive to meet various needs of the Hospital. Perhaps, the hospital will also need medical professionals in crucial departments and general as well. Above all, the major challenge lies in governance,” he pointed out.
Currently, Roberts Hospital has 31 permanent doctors, 12 visiting consultants, 71 sisters and 170 staff nurses. Its medical services have tremendously improved over the years and it never ceased to fulfil its duty to serve people.
As per 2020 reports submitted by the hospital, the number of out-patients was around 9,000 and that of revisits was over 28,000. The number of in-patients was about 7,500.
The hospital has the best dialysis care unit and also well-trained nurses in chemotherapy.
“The hospital is also responding quite well to new developments in medical sciences and technology. We now have young medical professionals who are aiming to take the hospital to new heights and serve the people of the state,” said Pyrtuh.
Roberts Hospital also has three rural health centres at Laitmawsiang, Mawphlang and Thangsning where the numbers of patients, including OPD, were 2,812, 3,439 and 5,683, respectively, in 2020.
The hospital also has a new ICU and a revamped waiting section to cater to the attendants of patients.
As the hospital celebrates its centenary year, it has plans to further its services and evolve with time and technology.
Majaw said the KJP “is thankful to the government for the land that will be used for expanding the hospital”.
“We will be installing an oxygen plant. We will also construct an annexe building at the cost of Rs 44 crore. We are planning to set up an OPD, a private and general wards in the new building,” said Majaw, adding that the hospital is also planning an oncology ward in the new section.
“Plans are already in place for growth and I pray that they will materialise. The KJP Assembly also runs Dr Norman Tunnel Hospital in Jowai. But expansion of Roberts Hospital, Shillong, is vital and it should be the major aim for the hospital. The KJP Assembly should also work aggressively towards improving the rural health centres at Mawphlang, Laitmawsiang, Thangsning and Myriaw,” observed Pyrtuh.
A long way has been traversed and a longer journey awaits Roberts Hospital. It is a heritage institution that the state government should pay attention to. This becomes imperative to not only take Roberts’ legacy forward but also to pay tribute to all those, known and unknown, who had worked incessantly to transform the hospital.
~ Team Sunday Monitor
