History of SNHI

The Nazarene Church built 17 clinics and 42 schools nationwide over the mid-part of the 20th century. A new consortium has just been organized combining the existing Colleges of Nursing, Education, and Theology to lead to the future Nazarene University of Swaziland. There is also a Home-Based Care HIV & AIDS Task Force, which provides voluntary home-based care to people living with HIV & AIDS (PLWHA) and orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) within the Manzini region. 1910's, 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's

1911 The first mission efforts of the Church of Nazarene in Swaziland began. Harman Schmelzenbach, a Nazarene missionary from Texas, met with the Queen and was sent to Endzingeni where he opened what was to become the first Nazarene mission in Africa. Today, Endzingeni is a church, clinic, and school. It provides elementary and high school education, along with community health and spiritual needs.
1925 June: Dr. David Hynd, a Scottish Nazarene missionary, arrived in Manzini. He went on to a distinguished medical career, founding the Nazarene College of Nursing and the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital in Manzini.
1926 Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital was founded by the Church of the Nazarene, through funds raised by the Fitkin family.
1927 The Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital officially opened on 16 July 1927, the ceremony was attended by King Sobhuza and Mrs. Susan Fitkin, the mother of Raleigh.
1930 The first motor ambulance arrived in Swaziland.
1931 The first nurses to be training in Swaziland received their hospital certificates. Kellinah Shongwe, Keziah Maphanga and Minah Dlamini were these nurses.
1943 September: The first rural clinic opened. The stones to build the clinic were collected by members of the Mliba Church.
1952 Evah Manzini, the first registered nurse and first African Sister to be appointed in Swaziland.
1968 King Mswati III was born at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital.
1975 Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital celebrated its 50 year anniversary. King Sobhuza II was a guest at these celebrations.
August, 9: The new Malandela clinic was opened by Mr David Jerone. This was the most inaccessible and isolated of the Nazarene clinics. It was staffed by Staff Nurse Matilda Dlamini.
1982 The Government of Swaziland asked the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital to be a regional referral hospital.
1992 The Church of the Nazarene made a strategic decision to redeploy its 124 missionaries in Swaziland to underserved countries. Church leaders felt that based on the 85 year history and strength of the Church in Swaziland, moving to national in-country leadership made sense. Church operations, and the education and healthcare systems were turned over to local leadership through the National Board of the Church of the Nazarene in Swaziland. The transition worked very well on the church and education fronts, but the challenges associated with operating a healthcare system for non-paying clients presented a unique challenge.
2003 The Swaziland National Board of the Church of the Nazarene and the Swaziland Government formed a partnership to operate the Swaziland Nazarene Health Institutions (Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, 17 Community Clinics & Nazarene College of Nursing).
2008 A agreement was signed with the Government of Swaziland, which reclassified the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital as a Class A para-statal under the Public Enterprise Act.