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Accueil Hôpital Introduction histoire de l'hôpital
History of the hospital
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History of the hospital
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Motive

In Pentecost holidays 1896 Albert Schweitzer decided to dedicate his life until his 30th anniversary to science and art. Out of gratitude for all he got he was willing to scarifice his future life from then on to people without the luck he has had.
His decision to go to Lambarene goes back to a call from the Paris Mission Society in 1904, which was locking for collaborators in the Gabon. He offered to the mission to go as a vicar. Because of his liberal attitude, he was refused. The remark of the director of the mission: “If you were a physician …” lead him to his decision in 1905 to begin his medicine study and to go as a physician to Africa equatorial.

The first Hospital (Andende 1913 - 1917)

In 1912 Schweitzer married Helene Bresslau. In-between she was trained as a nurse. After he got his doctor’s degree he left together with his wife Bordeaux on the 26th march 1913 for Africa. The 18th April they arrived in Andende, the station of the Paris mission near Lambaréné were they were warmly received by the missionaries.
The arrival of the “white witchdoctor” was quickly known by the black population. The first consultation room was in an old poultry house until the intended corrugated-iron hut was finished. As assistants who served were Helen Schweitzer and Joseph, who was also the translator.
At the beginning of the great war the government forbade Schweitzer to continue his work, because he was a German citizen. The population and the missionaries put the government under pressure and Schweitzer was able to continue his work under control. When he was on vacation in Cap Lopez Schweitzer was called to a sick missionary wife. During the two day boat trip he found the expression “Reverence for Life” which summarized his new philosophy.

andende

In 1917 Albert and Helen Schweitzer were interned to France. The first Station was Bordeaux, Then Garaison and at last St. Rémy en Provence.
In 1918 he came back in the Alsace and he worked as vicar in the St. Nicolai church and as an intern in the Hospital of Strasbourg. On the side he earned money with organ concerts, talks and writing books to pay back the debt to the Paris Mission and to prepare a new sojourn in Lambaréné.


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