RUSHERE COMMUNITY HOSPITALHow Rushere has developed
Healthcare services have been available at Rushere since 1988, when a small clinic was set up. In 1992, it was recognised that healthcare facilities were needed for the district, and work started on a small hospital.
When Joan Hall was appointed as Director in 1999, it consisted of one building, with only a few members of staff. The last few years has been a period of signicant growth, and now there is now an extended range of buildings, including three new wards and 82 beds. The hospital now employs a total of 52 members of staff.
Timeline
1961 Tetse fly is eradicated from the area by the government.
1964 People move into the area for its fertile soil and suitability for grazing cows.
1965 Home, schools and churches are built.
1970’s Medical facilities requested but not implemented because of political upheaval.
1988 A small clinic is set up in Rushere.
1992 60 acres of land is acquired and an inter-denominationally based Christian hospital is opened.
1998 Rushere Community Hospital becomes a Non-Government Organisation and later a member of the Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau.
2000 The Hospital becomes the Health Sub-District Headquarters with responsibility for 10 smaller health units.
2002 The Ministry of Health draws up a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ to work in partnership with the hospital.
2002 ‘Global Links’ is launched to encourage the development of the hospital.
2005 Rushere Hospital is designated a Government District Hospital following the establishment of the new district of Kiluhura.
2007 Joan Hall retired as Director.
2008 Global Links renamed as ‘Friends of Rushere Hospital’.
2009 Dr Bonitta Kafureka appointed as Director.
John Muhangunzi, Former Bishop North Ankole
When Rushere Hospital was set up in 1992, our Patron said “I wish Rushere to be a Christian-based Interdenominational Hospital”. The Christian faith continues to be central in the life of Rushere. Every morning, staff and patients gather for morning prayers, and staff meet regularly for bible study and prayer.
Christians from all over the world have prayed for development of the hospital. God has answered their prayers by providing people and funds to enable Rushere to grow and provide excellent healthcare services. The Christian roots in South West Uganda are very strong. This area was greatly impacted by the East Africa Revival, and the North Ankole Diocese of the Church of Uganda was established in 2003, with a new Catherdral in Rushere.
Joan Hall MBE, former Director
Joan Hall MBE, former Director, Rushere HospitalJoan Catherine Hall was born in England on June 1st 1930. The eldest of three daughters, she did not enjoy good health and lost her hearing in both ears at the age of eight. Rushed to hospital by her parents, the doctors were able to restore her hearing by surgery. At the age of 13 Joan committed her life to Christ. She reads the Bible every morning and likes to start the day with a time of reflection.
At the age of 22 Joan felt herself called by God to work in Uganda: she had picked up a Ruanda Mission (Church Missionary Society) magazine and had seen a vacancy for a Primary School teacher. Whilst Joan felt that God was calling her to this position friends and family feared that her poor health might mean that she would not be accepted by the Mission, but to her delight she was accepted without a medical!!
Joan travelled to Uganda by boat as it was cheaper than flying! She began to teach at Kabale Preparatory School in South West Uganda, and four years later she became headmistress of Kabale Girls’ Primary School which was to be re-named Hornby High School.
In 1961 Joan became head of Bweranyangi Girls Primary and Junior Secondary School and in 1963 she successfully secured a World Bank loan to turn the school in to a School offering Agriculture as one of the subjects. Joan remained at the school for 11 years and is remembered as a “builder of souls and character”.
It was during the years at Kabale and Bweranyangi that Joan’s life was challenged afresh by the lively faith and love of some Christians around her. The early commitment to Christ had been real, but the need for daily coming to Christ for cleansing and renewal had been lost. So began a new desire to live and share the Christian faith.
In 1974 Joan became headmistress of Kyebambe Girls’ School in Fort Portal but after only 4 months in this school, and over 20 years living in Uganda she returned to England to care for ill family members.
Back in the UK Joan worked for what was then the Rwanda Mission (CMS) for 10 years and amongst other things Joan organised for several Ugandan Christians to come to UK to share their faith. This included a visit by Bishop Festo Kivengere, Bishop Misaeri Kauma and the Rev John Wilson entitled “From Uganda with Love”. In 1984 Joan joined the staff of Cranmer Hall, a theological college in Durham, NE England. During this time she helped to introduce Mission Studies to the curriculum and was a valued mentor to many students.
In 1995, following her retirement from her work at Durham University, Joan went back to Uganda to research on the book “Pioneers in the East African Revival”. This contained testimonies of those whom God had used at the beginning of the East African Revival.
Whilst working on this research she was asked if she would be willing to take up an appointment as Director of Rushere Community Hospital.
Rushere Community Hospital in 1998 had no water or electricity but Joan felt the appointment was right and so accepted the challenge, believing that Jesus would be the Provider! Joan spoke the local language (Runyankole/Rukiga) and had a lot of support from the people of the area as well as from other parts of the world. Joan used the same skills to run the hospital as she had as a headmistress and during the nine years of leading the hospital she saw it grow from a simple medical centre to a flourishing community hospital with dental, eye, maternity and other services. She introduced daily morning prayers into the hospital programme and this has lead to the appointment of a chaplain on to the staff. Presented with a difficult challenge Joan will place it before the Lord in prayer and the results have been amazing. Joan retired in 2007 at the age of 77. In 2008 she was honoured with the MBE in recognition of her work in the medical and educational fields in Uganda.
Joan is now enjoying settling into her small flat in Bristol but is in regular and frequent touch with her many friends in Uganda