John Denys Taylor (3 September 1908 – 4 May 1987) was a Christian medical missionary who founded Bonda Mission Hospital within the Nyanga district in Zimbabwe.
Taylor wished to become a missionary doctor and in 1937, Bishop Paget gave him the opportunity to begin his journey to Bonda in the Inyanga district where he became a reverend recognized by the Church of England.
[1] The first medical work hospital was founded through the Church of England at St. David’s Mission with the grant from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
The foundation of my medical reputation was built mainly on four simple remedies which in these complicated days one is now apt to underestimate.
This was the first medical work that was accomplished in Southern Rhodesia;[1] however, it was closed due to lack of staffing in 1931 and the original building was built by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
[1] Originally, the hospital consisted of one main block with two subsequent wards and three relatively small rooms that included the operating theater and three huts used for outpatient treatment and a dispensary for contaminated items.
[4][5] With the shortage of drugs, supplies and trained professionals, many relatives were forced to become anesthetists or took on other roles, which was only short lived.
[1][4] In particular, mothers would die as there was no access to Cesarean sections or blood transfusions, which eventually became a priority for the hospital.
[7][4] In 1951, pulmonary tuberculosis became a health concern as cases increased with a shortage of beds due to the high demand.
Throughout Taylor’s 40 years at the missionary, Bonda Hospital was able to expand to a full size of 200 beds and over 100 staff members.
[1] The New Look recognized the necessary adjustment towards equitable salaries for those in mission work, especially those funded by an English establishment, including the Church of England.