Healthcare is the backbone of any thriving society—yet, for many, it remains just of reach. Health influences not only individual well-being but also economic stability, national development, and overall quality of life. When people can’t access the care needed, the consequences ripple far beyond personal health—productivity declines, industries falter, and entire families and communities suffer.
Yet in Nigeria today, where the cost of basic necessities has skyrocketed, quality healthcare is slipping even further beyond reach. A simple hospital visit now feels like a huge financial burden. As food, transportation, and essential goods become increasingly expensive, many of us are forced to choose between survival and medical care. Some delay treatment, ration medications, or turn to self-medication—whispering prayers like “By His stripes, I am healed,” not just out of faith, but out of necessity. For those battling chronic illnesses, this struggle is even more dire.
Amidst of these challenges, St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha, stands as a beacon of hope. At a time when quality healthcare feels like a privilege rather than a right, this faith-driven hospital is defying the odds—offering life-saving surgeries completely free of charge.
In November 2024, St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital organized a free Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) medical outreach, screening over 300 patients and successfully performing 44 surgeries in just five days. For many, it was nothing short of a miracle. One grateful recipient described it as “the best Christmas gift ever received.”
The impact extended of this historic beyond the numbers—every surgery was 100% successful, with no casualties recorded, a testament to the hospital’s dedication to excellence. All patients fully recovered and returned to their normal lives. This outreach was part of St. Charles’ ongoing commitment to humanitarian healthcare. Prior the ENT outreach, the hospital has already conducted over 170 free neurosurgeries, all at no cost to patients.
Beyond Healthcare: A Mission of Faith, Service, and Compassion
Growing up Catholic in southeastern Nigeria, one often hears of St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital as a “multispecialist hospital that has grown to become one of the largest private hospitals in West Africa.” Or, in more everyday encounters, it serves as a familiar landmark, often referenced by passengers in Anambra to bus drivers: “Biko kwụsị m na Boromi junction” (Please drop me at Borromeo junction).
Yet, experiencing St. Charles firsthand revealed that it is so much more than just a hospital—it is a habitation of healing, compassion, and faith in action.
Before surgery, patients were prayed for, encouraged, and counseled. The hospital staff weren’t just professional; they were also deeply compassionate, offering reassuring words and genuine care. For Catholic patients, Holy Communion was administered daily. There was food, hourly check-ups both before and after surgery, and an overall level of care that felt personal rather than clinical—a rare and profound experience in today’s medical landscape.
The environment was clean and well-maintained. But what stood out the most was the affordability—medical tests that cost ₦180,000 in other private hospitals and neighboring labs were only about 40% of that price at St. Charles. Everything about St. Charles made it crystal clear that this was a mission-driven, not-for-profit hospital, led by the capable Rev. Fr. Dr. Izunna Okonkwo.
Evangelism Without Words: Love in Action
St. Charles offers a profound lesson on what true evangelism looks like—not through words, but through action. Here, faith is not just preached; it is lived out in service, compassion, and unwavering commitment to humanity.
Patients weren’t just treated; they were cared for with kindness that transcended duty. This wasn’t evangelism wrapped in conditions or expectations of reciprocity. It was pure, selfless love in action—giving without asking, healing without boundaries, and embodying the very essence of Catholic charity.
During the medical outreach screening, it was heartbreaking to see multitudes of people who had lived with ear, nose, and throat tumors and other life-threatening conditions for years, simply because they couldn’t afford the care they needed. Yet, St. Charles, with the support of Hungary Helps, AFREKA Foundation, and It is to Do Good Foundation, took on their cases—free of charge—without discrimination of religion, tribe, or social status.
The Catholic Church as a Beacon of Hope in Healthcare
For years, the Catholic Church has played a critical role in healthcare, building hospitals, providing free medical care, and running some of the largest humanitarian health programs in the world.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Catholic Church offered the Federal Government access to all 435 Catholic hospitals and clinics in Nigeria to help accommodate COVID-19 patients—a selfless move to support a struggling healthcare system. When you read such things in the news, they seem admirable—but it hits differently when you become a direct beneficiary of such kindness.
Looking Ahead: The Need for More Support
Healthcare is a fundamental right. Everyone deserves a chance to live a healthy life, to grow old, and to thrive. However, with the current economic downturn and the U.S. funding freeze for healthcare in developing countries, affordable healthcare will become even more difficult to access.
Despite funding constraints, AFREKA Foundation is returning to Nigeria on February 17, 2024, for another round of free neurosurgeries. For this, we remain eternally grateful to Dr. Reka Fodor and her team, Rev. Fr. Dr. Izunna Okonkwo, and the entire staff at St. Charles Borromeo Specialist Hospital, Onitsha.
We also deeply appreciate our Proprietor, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, Archbishop of Onitsha and Metropolitan of Onitsha Ecclesiastical Province, for his ingenuity, love, care, generosity, and administrative acumen. His motto, “That they may have life, and have it abundantly,” is a direct reflection of the mission that St. Charles continues to embody.
Our hope—and prayer—is that the government and funding partners will not only recognize but actively support these lifesaving efforts. Healthcare is a right that must reach those who need it most.
* Chisom J. Mefor writes from Onitsha, can be reached on; [email protected]
