Emma Palm : Pang Shu Gu and Sg. Teku, Sibu
Miss Emma Palm served in Xian You, Fujian for 28 years from 1923 to 1950 as a medical missionary. Fluent in Heng Hua dialect she was reassigned to Sarawak in 1951 as matron of the Methodist Girls' Hostel, Sibu and taught in the school.
In 1952, Emma was posted to work at Sg. Teku Tien Sik Methodist church to help with the Youth and Women’s ministries. As a nurse she believed that it was very inconvenient for the sick to travel to Sibu, as Sg. Teku was 10 km from the town. Thus she felt there was a need to set up a clinic at Sg. Teku.
The government favoured Emma’s request and set up a clinic in the rural area. The clinic was under the supervision of the Sibu Hospital. The Sibu District Council also granted funds to aid the running of the clinic.
At first Emma used the home of Ｍs Tuan Ging Hua to treat the sick. This service proved to be very popular. To cater for the growing needs of the community, Rev Ling Kai Cheng and the leaders of the church met to discuss building a new clinic. Mr. Teng Ah Den was asked to design the building. The total cost for building the clinic and Emma’s hostel was around $7,000. An American friend sponsored a thousand dollars and the rest was contributed by the villagers.
The opening and dedication ceremony of the Sg. Teku Clinic was held at 10 am on 13 June, 1952. The Acting Governor happily exclaimed, “It is the first rural clinic in Sarawak.”
The first year’s report said that 4,590 people came for treatment. Miss Palm hoped that she could spend more time treating the longhouse folks and sharing the gospel with them.
In 1957, there were 6,841 patients. In October, Mrs. Ding Lik Kiu and Miss Du provided consultation for a brief period of time and that was the first time that the clinic had a doctor to serve the people.
By 1958, the medical staff would make rounds to different longhouses at Pasai every month. Each trip would take five days. The people of Pasai also built a place to serve as a clinic. Pastor Philemon Sirait and Pastor Men Jon would travel with the medical team to evangelize to the people. Up to that year, 250 Ibans were baptised. The medical team also went to Sg Assan and Penasu. The daughter of Dr Harold N. Brewster, Betty Brewster and a mid-wife Ling Mee Ing joined the medical team that year.
By 1958, the medical staff would make rounds to different longhouses at Pasai every month. Each trip would take five days. The people of Pasai also built a place to serve as a clinic. Pastor Philemon Sirait and Pastor Men Jon would travel with the medical team to evangelize to the people. Up to that year, 250 Ibans were baptised. The medical team also went to Sg Assan and Penasu. The daughter of Dr Harold N. Brewster, Betty Brewster and a mid-wife Ling Mee Ing joined the medical team that year.
By 13 July 1959, Emma had served eight years in Sibu , she retired and moved back to America.
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