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Dr. Hynd still caring for patients 67 years later

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MANZINI – Old but not worn out. This fits the life of one of the country’s oldest and medical doctors and the first Minister of Health, Dr Samuel Hynd. He was Minister during the Prince Makhosini premiership, from 1968 to 1972.

Born 85 years ago, Dr. Hynd has lived to tell how his career started.

Speaking to Swazi News on Tuesday this week, Dr. Hynd said he fell in love with the medical profession as he moved around with his father, the late Dr David Hynd.

He says people’s lives have always been part of him and he believes he will be a doctor until his last day on earth.

He started practising as a doctor in 1943.

Recounting his experiences, Dr. Hynd said in 1932, he moved to Glasgow University in Scotland where he met Rosemarie who later became his wife. He said what struck him the most was that his wife also had a desire move to Africa where she had to go and do missionary work. After studying in Scotland, Hynd proceeded to the University of London.

"I arrived in Swaziland when I was about six months old. My parents were staying in Mbabane because my father was a doctor at the Leprosy Clinic at Mbuluzi. I went to live at the St Marks Primary Schools hostel; I was eight years when I enrolled at the school. During school holidays, I moved around with my dad. I remember an incident where he told me to help an old lady extract her tooth because she was in deep pain," he recalled.

He said after completing school he enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand for a Bachelor of Science Degree.

He said there was a shortage of teachers in the region, at the time, because most male teachers were sent to the Second World War.

With the desire of becoming a doctor, Samuel had asked one of his teachers to teach him Latin so he did not find it difficult when he enrolled at the WITS University. His mother started classes for three boys from around Manzini who were working for a shop belonging to a certain Bennett family.

While at the Witwatersrand, he was enlisted in the army for the British and Germans and attached to the 25 Punder division of the army. Dr Hynd felt the job he was assigned to do was contrary to his principles.

"The 25 Punder Unit was responsible for shooting people so I told my commander that my wish was to help the injured because doctors were meant to save lives. I was then transferred to work with the first aid division and I was comfortable to be attached to that division.

He said when they arrived in Swaziland; his parents had the dream of establishing the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital.

Dr. Hynd said they used to mould blocks by the river banks of Mzimnene river, and upon completion of his medical studies he worked as a doctor at the RFM.

"About two years ago, after working so hard; knocking off very late at night each day, I then decided to retire from active service. I am going to dedicate my energies to helping my fellow countrymen affected by the HIV/AIDs pandemic," Dr. Hynd said.

Old lady fainted while assisting his late father

MANZINI – Dr Samuel Hynd related how an old lady fainted after she was asked to assist his late father Dr. David Hynd.

He said the lady, he only recalls was Khelinah, was called by his father after a boy was run over by a span of oxen and fractured one of his legs. Dr. Hynd said the woman could not believe it when she was given an amputated leg of the boy, which was in a bucket with the amputated leg. "Khelinah decided to take up nursing. I do not know if her fainting inspired her to take up nursing though. I worked with Khelinah as my nurse for more than 25 years and we had to part ways when I closed my surgery. I had grown to regard her as my daughter. She would come to me with all her problems and I will still do everything in my power to assist her and her family," said Dr Hynd. He said Khelinah became one of the first people to enrol at the newly opened nursing college and that it had only three students at the time. He said teachers were sent to the Republic of South Africa. Another lady who enrolled at the college was Minah who recently died after falling sick.

… constructing E500 000 clinic to care for HIV/AIDS patients

MANZINI – The International Church of the Nazarene will now open their own HIV/AIDS clinic that will cater for people living with HIV.

Dr. Samuel Hynd said they had spent about E500 000 for the construction of the clinic, which is nearing completion.

He said they were inspired to establish such a clinic after a visit to a White River based clinic that looks after HIV positive people. The place is known as AIDS Care Training and Support Initiative in Swaziland.

"Unfortunately, healthcare professionals, clinics, and hospitals are limited and unable to handle the huge influx of recent years. The project got a major boost from the International Church of the Nazarene. Whenever we travel to other parts of the world our brethren would ask us what we are doing with the issue of HIV/AIDS. The Canadian government contributed immensely towards the construction of the clinic," he said

"The clinic will start operating in the beginning of next year. We will have three doctors at the clinic. We are still to build staff houses to house 20 to 30 employees. We still have to go to the king to ask for permission from His Majesty so we may extend the fence so we may have bigger premises," said Dr Hynd.

He said with funds permitting, they were looking at having such clinics in other parts of the country. He received a degree in tropical diseases.

"The new clinic will help meet the immense health care, consultation and counselling needs of those with HIV/AIDS. The clinic is modelled after a successful community and Training and Support Initiative Acts II and they visited in the Masoyi Community in the Mpumalanga Province.

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