Sacred Heart Hospital, Lantoro Abeokuta is the first Nigerian hospital which was established in 1895 by the Catholic Church mission to Abeokuta through Reverend Father Coquard as a result of the leprosy epidemic that affected Egbaland between 1857 and 1859. It is located at Itesi, Abeokuta. Louisa Rodriguez was a Brazilian nurse who assisted Coquard for about 36 years serving as the director of nursing. Coquard had one year of instruction as a medical student before he joined the missionary.
The hospital was relocated to Lantoro in 1971 by Archbishop Aggey.
It is a 300 bedded hospital that serves the southwestern part of Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. It trains nursing students and postgraduate doctors in Family Medicine.
Sacred Heart Hospital, Lantoro, Abeokuta is recognised as the first and oldest medical hospital in Nigeria. Founded by Reverend Father Coquard to combat a leprosy epidemic, it relocated to its current site in 1971, serving as a 300-bed facility and training center for nursing and family medicine.
Key Historical Milestones
Establishment (1895): The hospital was founded in Itesi, Abeokuta, primarily to address a widespread leprosy epidemic that affected Egbaland between 1857 and 1859.
Founder: Reverend Father Coquard (also known as Kukad), a Roman Catholic missionary with limited medical training, pioneered the facility.
Key Personnel: Louisa Rodriguez, a Brazilian nurse, worked as the director of nursing for approximately 36 years.
Relocation (1971): To allow for expansion and modernisation, the hospital was moved to its present location in Lantoro, Abeokuta, by Archbishop John Kwao Amuzu Aggey.
Growth & Development: From its early beginnings, it has expanded to include a general hospital (300 beds), a tuberculosis unit (120 beds), a dental clinic, and an eye clinic.
Legacy and Impact
Oldest Hospital: It is considered the oldest surviving medical facility in Nigeria, preceding the African Hospital (now General Hospital, Lagos Island).
Missionary Institution: The hospital operates as a missionary not-for-profit institution under the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos/Abeokuta, focusing on providing healthcare to the community.
Medical Training: It is a key training center for postgraduate doctors in Family Medicine and nurses.
Outreach: Its mission includes serving the surrounding communities in Ogun State and the neighbouring Republic of Benin.
