Princess Tsahai, a Remembrance ! ~ by E. Sylvia Pankhurst

Princess Tsahai, a Remembrance !

 ~ by E. Sylvia Pankhurst ~ 
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CORRESPONDENCE * The Princess Tsahai Memorial Hospital in Ethiopia

To the Editor:
 
Canada and the Canadians have shown so warm and friendly an interest in Ethiopia;  so many Canadians have held positions there under the Ethiopian Government, that I venture to make through your Journal an appeal on behalf of a project which I feel will have the sympathy and support of your readers.
 
I am sure they will remember the sad plight of Ethiopia in 1935 when she was invaded by the forces of Mussolini,  powerfully equipped with modern arms against which she had no adequate defence.  At the time the heroic courage of the young Princess Tsahai, The Emperor's daughter, then only 16 years of age, was  outstanding.  Her eloquent broadcast appeal against the use of poison gas was heard in London.  In Addis Ababa, she organized the Ethiopian Women's Work Association, and led her compatriots in the manufacture of gas masks, bandages and comforts for the troops.  On arrival as an exile in London, she entered the Children's Hospital at Great Ormand Street where, after three years' devoted service, she qualified as a State Registered Nurse.  She then proceeded to Guy's Hospital for post-registration training.  She was at Guy's during the great air raids when she displayed both courage and a capacity for leadership.
 
On returning to Ethiopia with a unit of British Red Cross Nurses, she performed a great task in establishing an orphanage for children whose parents had been killed in the war, and in opening numerous hospitals and clinics.  Most tragically she did more than her strength allowed.  She died suddenly in a remote province for lack of the skilled aid she was endeavouring to bring to others.
 
It was felt by those in Britain who realized the great loss that the death of this young Princess would mean to her country, that a Memorial Hospital should be raised in Ethiopia to continue her own great efforts.  The formation of the Princess Tsahai Memorial Hospital Council in London was gratefully welcomed by Their Imperial Majesties, The Emperor and Empress, who graciously consented to become Patrons of the Hospital.  The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, leaders of other Churches, and the Ambassadors of the United Nations consented to be Honorary Presidents;  leaders of the medical profession, universities and schools, with prominent social workers, accepted the office of Vice-Presidents.  Upwards of £50,000 was raised for the project in this country, and a   similar sum in Ethiopia itself.  Her Majesty, The Queen, graciously honoured the Fund by a donation of £100. 
 
The Hospital is now complete and the official opening took place on November 2.  Colonel W. Byam, for twenty-five years Lecturer on Tropical diseases at St. George's Hospital, London, and with Sir Robert Archibald, Editor of "Practice of Medicine in the Tropics", has accepted the position of Director of the Hospital.
 
Further financial support is urgently needed.  The Memorial Hospital Council in London requires a further £1,500 to pay for goods already sent to Addis Ababa; moreover, still further equipment is required, for the Pharmacy and Laboratory in particular -- both of which are vital.
 
The Princess Tsahai Memorial Hospital is destined to be of immense importance to Ethiopia in the training of nurses and, subsequently, of physicians and surgeons, in co-operation with the new University College and its Canadian director.  Special attention to research into the treatment of tropical diseases will be given under the auspices of Colonel Byam who has made this his life study.  Such research will be valuable to all who live in all the tropics.  Ethiopia is in the unique position, owing to the various altitudes and their respective climates, of affording opportunities for the study of all the tropical diseases.
 
The Hon. Treasurers, both leaders of the medical profession, will most gratefully acknowledge all donations to the Fund.  Cheques and Money Orders should be drawn in favour of Princess Tsahai Memorial Hospital, and addressed to Lords Horder, G.C.V.O., M.D., and Amulree, M.D., F.R.C.P., M.A., c/o Messrs. Gould and Prideaux, 88 Bishopsgate, London, E.C.2., through any branch of Barclays Bank -- Colonial, Dominion or Overseas.
 

E. Sylvia Pankhurst,
Hon. Secretary
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*Source: Canadian Medical Association Journal - 1952 Jan; 66(1): 77–78. [PMCID: PMC1822216]