ECWA Hospital Egbe
Encyclopedia
ECWA Hospital Egbe is a Christian hospital located in Egbe
, Kogi State
, Nigeria
.
It is a 121-bed hospital which became SIM's first training Hospital.
so many years ago particularly through Rev. Tommy Titcombe and his wife (a British-born Canadian Missionary), on behalf of the Serving in Mission
(SIM) from the United States
, Canada
, and the UK, who served in Egbe
and Yagba land from 1908 for more than a decade, this has left a positive impact on the people of Egbe
, Yagba and Nigeria
at large. He came to Egbe
at a time when West Africa
was considered a white man's grave due to the existence of malaria
.'Oyinbo' Egbe
as Rev Titcombe was fondly called was used by God to start a large and healthy church in Yagba land that continues until this day. He was also renowned for caring for the sick, especially those with ulcerous wounds. ECWA Hospital Egbe became one of the products of the work.
ECWA Hospital Egbe has served people in the community and beyond.
Tommy Titcombe got married to Ethel McIntosh in1915; this union brought about a turning point in the history of the hospital. Tommy and wife arrived Egbe
two days before Christmas 1915 from their honey moon, they didn’t realise how exciting Christmas Day was going to be. As they were getting ready to go to the five O’clock service on Christmas morning, a messenger came running from the town beckoning Ethel to come quickly. There was a woman who had just giving birth to twins. She had had four babies and all had died. At that time Yagbas (this is what people from Egbe
and surrounding communities are called) believed that a woman who gave birth to twins was something less than human and they wouldn’t let them live in the village any longer. Believing one of the twins must be an evil spirit, so, they were waiting for the medicine man to come and kill both of them. Consequently, Ethel (Tommy’s wife) was able to save the twins and the woman from being put to death, though there was resistance from the people, but for God’s intervention. The first twins (Reuben and Ruth) were saved on that day without any evil befalling them as the people believed and the practice was gradually abolished from among the Yagba people.
Perhaps, because Ethel wanted to save more twins, she decided to start a small maternity in their house. This was the genesis of ECWA Hospital Egbe. In 1925 they tarted building a Maternity and Clinic, with Christian converts’ support and hard labour, the building was completed in 1926.
Since the birth of the Hospital, Rev and Mrs. Titcombe had worked hard to sustain it till 1951. It must be tough for them since both of them do not have a formal medical training; they developed the nursing skill with time.
By 1950, Egbe
people had started to develop and manifest a very positive response to the medical services. No doubt there was increase patronage from both within and outside Egbe
, consequently Rev and Mrs. Titcombe could no longer cope with the increasing number of patients even with the helping hand of Olutoju who was a trained Nurse, hence there was an immediate need for trained personnel.
Meanwhile, Rev Tommy Titcombe had consulted with Dr. George Campion in 1949; Dr. Campion was in his final year of medical training at Canada. He agreed to come to Egbe
after his course. Tommy and Ethel’s decision to return home was a ‘sad news’ for Egbe
people, but since Tommy was getting old, and must have felt a growing sense of peace within himself saying “now I have more time to pray for Egbe
Hospital and SIM Missionaries”. Tommy officially retired home in his 77th years in 1958.
The arrival of Dr. Campion and his wife who decided to go back into nursing after her degree course (B. A. Honours in English Language) marked the peak of the final transition of the hospital to one of the biggest, most popular and most successful hospital in the present Kogi State
and Nigeria
at large. Because of the medical inconvenience posed on him by lack of necessary buildings, he immediately initiated the construction of certain buildings which include: the main building housing; Autoclave room, operation theatre, Doctor’s offices, Outpatients Department (OPD), Patients’ waiting room, card room, Ward A and the Laboratory. These buildings were completed and dedicated on 17 July 1953. By January 1954, the 25 bed added Ward A (called Dr. Schoffstall ward) could no more accommodate the ever increasing number of patients.
The rate of growth and fame of the hospital became unprecedented, so by 1962, the available ward A (Schoffstall ward) and ward B (Hope Sneath ward) became inadequate, thus a third ward C (Gay Hawtin Ward) was started and completed with 19 beds. The hospital could boast of 69 bedded wards.
In 1965, Campion added some pressing building needed which include: Central Supply Room, Administration, Pharmacy, cashiers and Accounts with second floor operating suite completed. Further more, because of the 520 births received in 1970 alone, the new maternity was equipped with 35 beds.
Because of the need to reflect the image of the hospital as a mission aimed and for evangelism purpose, Dr. Campion initiated the building of three Pastor’s Offices in 1971, the building was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Janet Troupe who died in Nigeria
while treating Lassa fever
patients. In fact, the programme was designed that all the patients had to pass through one pastor or the other.
Dr. and Mrs George Campion finally went back home in 1986.
Nursing Training School was the first of its kind in the whole Kogi
and Kwara
for many years.
ECWA School of Midwifery, Egbe was first established in 1977 as Midwives Training School and since has been graduating midwives who are doing excellently well within and outside the country.
Egbe
Egbe Mekun which is popularly called ‘Egbe’ in brief is an historic town located in Yagba West Local government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa.- History :This town is an ancient town bordering Kogi and Kwara States...
, Kogi State
Kogi State
Kogi state is found in the central region of Nigeria. It is popularly called the Confluence State because the confluence of River Niger and River Benue is at its capital, Lokoja, which is the first administrative capital of modern-day Nigeria....
, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
It is a 121-bed hospital which became SIM's first training Hospital.
Foreword
There was missionary activity in EgbeEgbe
Egbe Mekun which is popularly called ‘Egbe’ in brief is an historic town located in Yagba West Local government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa.- History :This town is an ancient town bordering Kogi and Kwara States...
so many years ago particularly through Rev. Tommy Titcombe and his wife (a British-born Canadian Missionary), on behalf of the Serving in Mission
Serving In Mission
SIM is an international, interdenominational Christian mission organization. It was established in 1893 by its three founders, Walter Gowans and Rowland Bingham of Canada and Thomas Kent of the United States....
(SIM) from the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and the UK, who served in Egbe
Egbe
Egbe Mekun which is popularly called ‘Egbe’ in brief is an historic town located in Yagba West Local government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa.- History :This town is an ancient town bordering Kogi and Kwara States...
and Yagba land from 1908 for more than a decade, this has left a positive impact on the people of Egbe
Egbe
Egbe Mekun which is popularly called ‘Egbe’ in brief is an historic town located in Yagba West Local government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa.- History :This town is an ancient town bordering Kogi and Kwara States...
, Yagba and Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
at large. He came to Egbe
Egbe
Egbe Mekun which is popularly called ‘Egbe’ in brief is an historic town located in Yagba West Local government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa.- History :This town is an ancient town bordering Kogi and Kwara States...
at a time when West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
was considered a white man's grave due to the existence of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
.'Oyinbo' Egbe
Egbe
Egbe Mekun which is popularly called ‘Egbe’ in brief is an historic town located in Yagba West Local government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa.- History :This town is an ancient town bordering Kogi and Kwara States...
as Rev Titcombe was fondly called was used by God to start a large and healthy church in Yagba land that continues until this day. He was also renowned for caring for the sick, especially those with ulcerous wounds. ECWA Hospital Egbe became one of the products of the work.
ECWA Hospital Egbe has served people in the community and beyond.
History
Tommy Titcombe, while preaching from place to place usually saw people with sores; this encouraged him to embark on health care services, while he was quick to notice this as another avenue to wining souls. Formation of ECWA Hospital Egbe gradually began.Tommy Titcombe got married to Ethel McIntosh in1915; this union brought about a turning point in the history of the hospital. Tommy and wife arrived Egbe
Egbe
Egbe Mekun which is popularly called ‘Egbe’ in brief is an historic town located in Yagba West Local government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa.- History :This town is an ancient town bordering Kogi and Kwara States...
two days before Christmas 1915 from their honey moon, they didn’t realise how exciting Christmas Day was going to be. As they were getting ready to go to the five O’clock service on Christmas morning, a messenger came running from the town beckoning Ethel to come quickly. There was a woman who had just giving birth to twins. She had had four babies and all had died. At that time Yagbas (this is what people from Egbe
Egbe
Egbe Mekun which is popularly called ‘Egbe’ in brief is an historic town located in Yagba West Local government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa.- History :This town is an ancient town bordering Kogi and Kwara States...
and surrounding communities are called) believed that a woman who gave birth to twins was something less than human and they wouldn’t let them live in the village any longer. Believing one of the twins must be an evil spirit, so, they were waiting for the medicine man to come and kill both of them. Consequently, Ethel (Tommy’s wife) was able to save the twins and the woman from being put to death, though there was resistance from the people, but for God’s intervention. The first twins (Reuben and Ruth) were saved on that day without any evil befalling them as the people believed and the practice was gradually abolished from among the Yagba people.
Perhaps, because Ethel wanted to save more twins, she decided to start a small maternity in their house. This was the genesis of ECWA Hospital Egbe. In 1925 they tarted building a Maternity and Clinic, with Christian converts’ support and hard labour, the building was completed in 1926.
Since the birth of the Hospital, Rev and Mrs. Titcombe had worked hard to sustain it till 1951. It must be tough for them since both of them do not have a formal medical training; they developed the nursing skill with time.
By 1950, Egbe
Egbe
Egbe Mekun which is popularly called ‘Egbe’ in brief is an historic town located in Yagba West Local government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa.- History :This town is an ancient town bordering Kogi and Kwara States...
people had started to develop and manifest a very positive response to the medical services. No doubt there was increase patronage from both within and outside Egbe
Egbe
Egbe Mekun which is popularly called ‘Egbe’ in brief is an historic town located in Yagba West Local government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa.- History :This town is an ancient town bordering Kogi and Kwara States...
, consequently Rev and Mrs. Titcombe could no longer cope with the increasing number of patients even with the helping hand of Olutoju who was a trained Nurse, hence there was an immediate need for trained personnel.
Meanwhile, Rev Tommy Titcombe had consulted with Dr. George Campion in 1949; Dr. Campion was in his final year of medical training at Canada. He agreed to come to Egbe
Egbe
Egbe Mekun which is popularly called ‘Egbe’ in brief is an historic town located in Yagba West Local government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa.- History :This town is an ancient town bordering Kogi and Kwara States...
after his course. Tommy and Ethel’s decision to return home was a ‘sad news’ for Egbe
Egbe
Egbe Mekun which is popularly called ‘Egbe’ in brief is an historic town located in Yagba West Local government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa.- History :This town is an ancient town bordering Kogi and Kwara States...
people, but since Tommy was getting old, and must have felt a growing sense of peace within himself saying “now I have more time to pray for Egbe
Egbe
Egbe Mekun which is popularly called ‘Egbe’ in brief is an historic town located in Yagba West Local government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria, West Africa.- History :This town is an ancient town bordering Kogi and Kwara States...
Hospital and SIM Missionaries”. Tommy officially retired home in his 77th years in 1958.
The arrival of Dr. Campion and his wife who decided to go back into nursing after her degree course (B. A. Honours in English Language) marked the peak of the final transition of the hospital to one of the biggest, most popular and most successful hospital in the present Kogi State
Kogi State
Kogi state is found in the central region of Nigeria. It is popularly called the Confluence State because the confluence of River Niger and River Benue is at its capital, Lokoja, which is the first administrative capital of modern-day Nigeria....
and Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
at large. Because of the medical inconvenience posed on him by lack of necessary buildings, he immediately initiated the construction of certain buildings which include: the main building housing; Autoclave room, operation theatre, Doctor’s offices, Outpatients Department (OPD), Patients’ waiting room, card room, Ward A and the Laboratory. These buildings were completed and dedicated on 17 July 1953. By January 1954, the 25 bed added Ward A (called Dr. Schoffstall ward) could no more accommodate the ever increasing number of patients.
The rate of growth and fame of the hospital became unprecedented, so by 1962, the available ward A (Schoffstall ward) and ward B (Hope Sneath ward) became inadequate, thus a third ward C (Gay Hawtin Ward) was started and completed with 19 beds. The hospital could boast of 69 bedded wards.
In 1965, Campion added some pressing building needed which include: Central Supply Room, Administration, Pharmacy, cashiers and Accounts with second floor operating suite completed. Further more, because of the 520 births received in 1970 alone, the new maternity was equipped with 35 beds.
Because of the need to reflect the image of the hospital as a mission aimed and for evangelism purpose, Dr. Campion initiated the building of three Pastor’s Offices in 1971, the building was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Janet Troupe who died in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
while treating Lassa fever
Lassa fever
Lassa fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus and first described in 1969 in the town of Lassa, in Borno State, Nigeria, in the Yedseram river valley at the south end of Lake Chad. Clinical cases of the disease had been known for over a decade but had not been connected...
patients. In fact, the programme was designed that all the patients had to pass through one pastor or the other.
Dr. and Mrs George Campion finally went back home in 1986.
ECWA School of Nursing and ECWA School of Midwifery
Dr. Campion soon realised the fact that very soon more hands will be needed in order to carry on with the work; he took the first paramedical initiatives to establish a Nursing Training School (NTS)(now ECWA School of Nursing, Egbe) which will produce nurses that will be engaged in the medical service of the hospital. Although, the school was established in 1955, the government’s approval was not secured until 1957. ECWAEvangelical Church of West Africa
The Evangelical Church of West Afria now called Evangelical Church Winning All is one of the largest Church denominations in Nigeria, reaching about five million people. ECWA is a partner church of the international Christian Mission Organisation: Serving In Mission...
Nursing Training School was the first of its kind in the whole Kogi
Kogi
Kogi or Cogui may be:*Kogi State, Nigeria*the Kogi people, Colombia**the Kogi language...
and Kwara
Kwara State
Kwara State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Ilorin. The primary ethnic group of Kwara State is Yoruba, with significant Nupe, Bariba and Fulani minorities.- History :...
for many years.
ECWA School of Midwifery, Egbe was first established in 1977 as Midwives Training School and since has been graduating midwives who are doing excellently well within and outside the country.
The Various Departments
- Administration
- Account
- Pharmacy
- Operating Room (Theatre Unit)
- Radiology (X-ray)
- Outpatient Department
- Laboratory
- Ward A (Female Medical Ward)
- Ward C (Children Ward)
- Male Surgery Ward
- Maternity
- Under fives’ Clinic, Antenatal and Family Planning Clinic
- Eye Centre
- Maintenance
- Evangelism
- HIV/AIDS Counselling Clinic