It can be truly said that the Hospital has had its origin in an act of Faith. Charity, of course, is the ruling virtue of all hospitals, for they are nothing if not institutions of charity. But to plan an institution like the Borromeo, and to attempt to build it with little or no finances, requires strong Faith in a benign Providence. When our Mission first decided to undertake medical work here in Eastern Nigeria, we concentrated on rural areas, as we had thought that the townships would be well provided with Government Hospitals – Onitsha, Enugu, Port-Harcourt, Calabar had each its Government Hospital with an efficient staff in the early thirties. We, therefore, made our first feeble attempts at Annua, Emekuku, Ihiala, Adazi, Nsukka, in that order. I do not overlook the fact the Church Missionary Society had even then already set up that splendid hospital at Iyi-Enu which has done such wonders in the relief of suffering all these years.
But the people of Onitsha had often petitioned us to bring some of our medical workers into Onitsha, as they were successful the rural areas. Our maternity hospital down at the Waterside was highly popular, and the visiting Sister Doctor from Ihiala attracted a numerous clientele. The requests continued and at length, by the generosity of Barrister F. Anyaegbunam and his family, this magnificent site was acquired. A meeting was held of representatives of the four parishes of the township at which extravagant promises of financial help were made. Our faith in these promises was not proportionate to the promises themselves, but our minds went back to 1933 when with only £2,000 to our credit we started to build Holy Trinity Cathedral and Christ the King College at one and the same time. Providence favoured us then. Why not put the same faith in Providence now? The act of faith was made with less than £9,000 in hand and now we have finished this group of buildings at a cost of £105,000, including equipment.
In deep humility and inexpressible gratitude, we turn our hearts to Almighty God and thank Him for guiding us through the anxious days of construction, and ask him to bless all those who have so generously contributed to this work of charity. Our benefactors from overseas are many and generous. From Onitsha itself they are also many and as generous, I have no doubt, as their means allow. May the good God bless them all and reward them abundantly, and make this hospital a home of comfort for multitudes.
There are many we would like to thank individually, but space will not allow here. The list of donors will be published elsewhere, and our gratitude will be perennial. We would like to emphasise that this Hospital is for all, rich and poor, without any distinction of race or tribe or creed. All will get the best treatment that medical science and the staff can give. There will be a gradual unfolding of the complete plans and projects, always in understanding with the Ministry of Health. † Charles Heerey C.S.Sp. D.D.

A CHRISTIAN SEES MEANING IN SUFFERING
Pope John Paul II’s Message to the sick and the aged from all across the country Gathered at St Charles Borromeo Hospital, Onitsha In the afternoon of Saturday, 13 February, 1982.
Dear friends,
I am happy to be with you this afternoon, you, the sick and the old. You are precious in the eyes of God. Your lives have a deep meaning for society and for me. My joy is all the greater because I am meeting you in this famous hospital called after St Charles Borromeo, whose name was given to me by my parents at Baptism. My predecessor Paul VI visited this place in 1962 when it was at the building stage, and he contributed to its construction. I can see the loving gesture of the Church in Onitsha in naming this hospital after St Charles Borromeo, that apostle of Milan and the patron of your first Archbishop of Onitsha, C.S.Sp., who departed this life in 1967.

1. As long as we are on our earthly pilgrimage, suffering and sickness will exist. They are a part of our human condition, and ultimately they are the results of original sin, but they are not necessarily the fault of the individual. There are many people of different ages who suffer through no fault of their own. Children, in particular, are vulnerable to suffering, often caused by the thoughtlessness or negligence of adults. The reality of sickness and malnutrition in the lives of millions of children is a fact that calls for attention and action. And the condition of the retarded child makes us think about the very meaning of human life. Old age too brings own difficulties and physical weakness.
2. Although God allows suffering to exist in the world, he does not enjoy it. Indeed, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man, loved the sick; he devoted a great part of his earthly ministry to healing the sick and comforted the afflicted. Our God is a God of compassion and consolation. And he expects us to take the ordinary means to preventive health care programmes; we have doctors, nurses, paramedicals and medical institutions of many kinds. Medical science has made much progress. We should take advantage of all this.
3. But even after all these efforts, suffering and sickness still exist. A Christian sees meaning in suffering. He bears such suffering with patience, love of God, and generosity. He offers it all to God, through Christ, especially during the Sacrifice of the Mass. When the sick person receives Holy Communion, he unites himself with Christ the Victim. When suffering is associated with Christ’s Passion and redemptive death, then it has great value for the individual, for the Church and for society. This is the meaning of those wonderful words of Saint Paul on which we must meditate over and over again: “now, I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church” (Col 1:24). I also know personally what it means to be sick and to stay in hospital for a long time, and how it is possible to comfort and support others who share the same lot of confinement and suffering, and how necessary it is to pray for the sick and to show them one’s loving concerning. In this connection, I am happy to note that you have in this hospital a beautiful chapel with the Blessed Sacrament reserved, and that there is a resident chaplain. Jesus himself wants to be your consolation and strength, through his Eucharistic presence and through the ministry of his priests.
4. You who are advanced in age are senior citizens. You have borne the heat of the day in life’s struggle and have gathered much knowledge, wisdom and experience. Please share these generously with the younger generation. You have something very important to offer to the world; and your contribution is purified and enriched through the patience and love that are yours, when you are united with Christ. Old age slows down the body and brings weakness and sometimes sickness. Our response includes medical attention and Christian patience. In union with Christ, you are called to thank God the Father for having given you human life and having called you to live both in this world and for ever in union with Christ.
5. In Nigeria, you have the beautiful culture of the extended family system. The sick and the old are not abandoned by their children, their nephews and nieces, their cousins or other kindred. The wide umbrella of charity has a roof for all. This is a precious heritage that must be maintained. The ideal is under pressure, especially in the cities, and towns where the old are sometimes cut off from the extended family. The abandonment and solitude of the old results when a great cultural value has been taken away and has been replaced by something totally un-African.
6. To the doctors, the nurses, the paramedicals and others who care for the sick in Nigeria, not forgetting the various medical and nursing councils, professional and administrative, I express my esteem and gratitude. Your humanitarian concern is worthy of great praise. Your Christian charity merits everlasting life. Jesus himself made concern for the sick something on which our judgment and eternal reward depend: “Come O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for…… I was sick and you visited me” (Mtt 25:34,36).