Mercy Hospital celebrates 80th anniversary

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital will celebrate 80 years of dedicated service in 2025. In a press release in commemoration of the event, the hospital looked back at its origins and years of dedication and service that made it become one of the most prestigious hospitals in the country.
According to the release, the idea for the hospital began in 1943 with a group called the “Sword of the Spirit.” The group recognised the need for a premier healthcare facility that would serve all people regardless of race, religion, or social status. Discussions for its establishment brought together the Sisters of Mercy, the Bishop of Georgetown, prominent business persons, and the executives of the Sword of the Spirit.
Through donations, a nursing home called “Colona House”, also known as ColonnaBuilding, was acquired and renovated to serve as the hospital. The facility was equipped with essential departments, including an admissions office, X-ray room, laboratory, operating theatre, and maternity ward.
A nursing school was also established to train nurses before the hospital’s official opening. This school later became a recognised institution and continues to operate today, producing skilled nurses who serve not only in Guyana but across the Caribbean and internationally.
Over the years, additional properties were acquired, and new three-story wings were built to accommodate more patients.
On March 19, 1945, the Feast of St. Joseph, the institution was dedicated to its patron saint. It was officially blessed on August 15, 1945, the Feast of the Assumption of Mary, and just weeks later, On September 1, 1945, the hospital welcomed its first birth, officially opening its doors to the public.
The hospital quickly gained a reputation for excellence. In 1963, during a time of national unrest, it played a crucial role alongside the Georgetown Hospital in providing care to citizens.
Founding doctors such as Dr. Romiti, Dr. Bettencourt, Sir Maly Gomes, Dr. Fredericks, and Dr. Honnet Searwar were among the pioneers who offered medical and surgical care. From the very beginning, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital has been a faith-based, non-profit institution committed to serving all in need.
A major setback came in 2010, when a devastating fire destroyed the hospital’s old wing. Critical areas including doctors’ offices, admissions, records, the emergency room, private wards, the operating theatre, and the ICU were lost. Yet, through generous donations from local and overseas supporters, the hospital rebuilt. New facilities were established, including two modern operating theatres, a recovery room, and relocated ICU and admissions offices.
In the latter years the administration of the hospital shifted to laypersons. However, the Sisters of Mercy, together with the Bishop and the Board of Directors, continue to guide and oversee the institution. Fundraising efforts remain strong through the Friends of Mercy, an auxiliary support group that continues the mission of service.
Today, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital continues to stand as a pillar of healthcare in Guyana. With the implementation of a new Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) and the expansion of advanced medical services, the hospital now offers life-saving procedures that once required travel abroad including brain surgery, kidney transplants, and total hip and knee replacements.
Conveniently located on Parade Street, Kingston, Georgetown, the hospital remains a beacon of compassionate, high-quality healthcare in Guyana.
As it celebrates 80 years, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital remains committed to its founding vision: to provide compassionate, high-quality healthcare to all who need it as Mission to humanity as its core motto.