Examining the Role of the Church Missionary Association (CMS) in Health, Treatment, and Establishment of Morsalin Hospital in Kerman (1898-1954)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. student of Iranian history after Islam, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

2 Ph.D., Associate Professor of History Department of Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran

Abstract

The medical evolution that occurred through the transition from traditional medicine to modern medicine, together with the arrival of foreign doctors in the Qajar era, was considered one of the most important social events in the field of medicine. This was enhanced by establishing hospitals and infirmary by missionary associations, which, in turn, contributed to improving the health level. The Missionary Association of the Church was one of the most important missionary associations that started its activity in the southeast of Iran due to the prevalence of various diseases, lack of public health, and shortage of medicine and treatment. This association pursued its activities by establishing schools, hospitals, and churches to propagate and spread Christianity. During this period, Kerman suffered from various diseases, and traditional medicine was far from providing effective treatment. Therefore, the agents of the CMS Association took an important step to treat patients. To this end, they established Morsalin Hospital.
This article attempts to address the following question:  what role and position did the missionary association of the church have in providing health services in Kerman? The current research was carried out in a descriptive-analytical way, taking a library approach. The research findings show that the doctors and nurses of the missionary association of the church have played an influential role in improving the health and treatment of people in the context of preaching and spreading Christianity.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Research on History of Medicine
Volume 12, Issue 1
February 2023
Pages 35-50

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