The Introduction of Government

With land donated by the Amaigbo community and a commitment to manage the hospital by the Catholic Church, the one thing still missing was a hospital building. At this point, the Amaigbo community and the Catholic Church jointly approached the Colonial Government of Eastern Nigeria for funding. After a series of meetings, an agreement was reached on the 14^th of February 1948 to establish a hospital and that the government would be responsible for financing the building, while the Catholic Church would execute the project. With immense enthusiasm and support of the Amaigbo community, British and local experts-surveyors, engineers, architects, planners, designers, etc. the construction of the hospital commenced.

An original plan for an 83-bed facility was agreed and costed at 30,000 pounds. This was funded by the Colonial Development Corporation (CDC). The building was completed in 1954, and the Amaigbo “Joint” hospital was declared open to the public on September 10^th, 1955, by the Minister of Health at the time- Dr Michael I Okpara.

The hospital, which was seen as an architectural masterpiece when it was first built, was said to be the first of its kind in the then Eastern Nigeria. The original name of the hospital was Amaigbo Joint Hospital. It was later changed to St Mary’s Joint Hospital Amaigbo, in 1957, following a request by the Catholic Church.