US Naval Era: Health

Health and Medicine, Historic Eras of Guam, Modern Guam Rises, People, People and Places, Post WWII Era, Post WWII Era: Health, US Naval Era, US Naval Era: Health, Women in Guam History, WWII/Japanese Era, WWII/Japanese Era: Health

Amanda Guzman Shelton

Amanda Pangelinan Guzman Shelton (1906-1982) was one of a handful of native Chamorro nurses who worked at the Naval Hospital in Hagåtña in the early American administration of Guam before World War II.  Better known as “Mac,” Shelton was born 22 October 1906.

Health and Medicine, Historic Eras of Guam, US Naval Era, US Naval Era: Health

School for Nurses

Because of a shortage of personnel Navy Medical Officers began teaching local women to be health care workers. The first class offered, in 1901, was in midwifery (local women delivered 325 babies that year) beginning a long tradition of the staff of the Naval Hospital teaching local people to be health care providers using Western medical practices.

Health and Medicine, Historic Eras of Guam, US Naval Era, US Naval Era: Health

Hospitals

The first medical facilities and dispensaries of the US Naval Era (1898 – 1941) were established shortly after the Spanish American War in 1898, recorded as early as 1899. In this first year, Naval officials estimated that 1,141 indigenous CHamorus received medical care. Since roads remained under developed and hazardous, the Navy also provided a portable clinic that traveled to and from different points around the island.

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