urua akpan 1968 - medical missionaries of...

Urua Akpan 1968

Pauline Dean MMM

Why am I publishing this after forty years?

Mostly because it has just come to light in a suitcase.

I think because firstly I had forgotten how much the people suffered

and secondly how many kind people helped us in caring for the

sick and wounded. I also thought that some of the people

mentioned in this diary might be interested to

read it – as I was when I found it just recently.

Medical Missionaries

of Mary

Rooted and Founded in Love

January 1968

23rd Food was scarce so we started to farm. Planted pumpkin, melonand okra.

28th Plane and two thuds in OPD – I did not hear because of screamingchildren.

29th In afternoon I mounted Primus (gate man’s) bicycle and cycledto Nto Nsek with Primus for SVP meeting. Greetings all the way.Visited Iquo and 4 month old baby – 4 Ibs – starved. Mother saidshe’d bring him to hospital in the morning.

30th Planted French beans and tomato, and some local beans.

February 1968

9th Mother Francis Xavier arrived to tell us that a Catholic Relief Services plane had crash landed at Port Harcourt but pilot, crew, 2 fathers and 1 sister were safe.

11th Tedious day on duty – then St. Vincent de Paul meeting, two hours long.

14th To Use Abat where they have just planted 400 yams. Mgr. Conway, Archbishop Arinze and Bishop Ekandem came.

16th Went around Male Ward with Sr. Leonie, prior to taking over from her.

17th Went to Anua and had a great game of tennis with Sisters Teresita and Raphael. Sister Leonie left for holidays.

19th Bad day trying to do Male Ward, Children’s Ward and 2 clinics.Head just doesn’t work after 1.30 when working at such a pace.Continued rounds 4–7.20 and called down again at 7.30 pm. Up at night 1.20–4.45 am. breech delivery and then anotherdelivery by vacuum.

20th Late starting and another bad day.

In January 1968 the Medical Missionaries of Mary at St.

Mary's Hospital, Urua Akpan, included:

Two nurse-midwives:

Sisters M. Eugene McCullagh and Elizabeth Dooley

Two doctors: Sisters Leonie McSweeney and

Pauline Dean. It was expected that one of these

would be re-assigned elsewhere shortly.

Administrator: Sister Brigidine Murphy

U R U A A K P A N 1 9 6 8 3B I A F R A N W A R D I A R Y2

© MMM Publications

Pauline Dean MMM

About the Author:Sister Pauline Dean graduated from Liverpool University Medical

School in 1945. Five years later she began post-graduate studies inPaediatrics at the Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. In 1953 she

interrupted her studies to join MMM and went to Nigeria in 1961,where she worked at St. Luke's Hospital, Anua. In 1965 she returned to

Ohio and completed her post-graduate studies in Paediatrics. On her return to Nigeria in January 1968, she was assigned to St.

Mary's Hospital, Urua Akpan, where this diary begins. Later in life,Sister Pauline worked in Kenya, where she established a HIV-AIDS

programme in one of Nairobi's biggest slums, Kibera. By then,Sister Elizabeth Dooley was also in Nairobi working at the Health

Desk of the Catholic Secretariat. One wonders did they everreminisce about their days together in Urua Akpan?

7th Great tension here every time a plane comes. All locals leave here 10 am to 4 pm. Saw film ‘The Black Tent’. Tornado in theafternoon.

9th Tried to settle down after 2 weeks of duty as the only doctor in thehospital.

10th Urua Akpan very deserted – all refused to go to St.Vincent de Paulmeeting at Ikot Ekpene. Fr. Frawley and I went and found a bigcontingent from Anua.

11th Visit of Bishop Wilson of Birmingham and Archbishop Pattersonwith 60 or 70 others. After the address of welcome they ranaround the bomb sites and then had coffee in the parlour. BishopWilson knew Cecily Williams.

12th Transplanted tomatoes and put fertiliser down on our farm.Fathers McGee, Mc Bride and Okai called and we visited the farmand got hints.

13th Busy day, then on to Use Abat. Sister Marius and I had rasher andegg! Very tired.

16th Helped with St.Vincent de Paul bazaar. Great work being donegetting clothes for refugees.

19th In Children’s Ward there was a 7 year old with a compoundfracture of leg. He was ‘taking cover’ from bombing under a cocoyam leaf when he thought it hit him in the leg, but when he triedto get up he couldn’t. His father came over carrying the baby andwhen he saw him he put the baby down and shouted to a soldierto take care of it. Then he carried the child to hospital. The nextday he went back to see the baby and no one had seen it. But hefound it in a bush alright!

Went to the pool with Sisters Pacelli, Fidelis and Consolata.

20th Heard that Oron had been taken. Loud shelling at night.

Wonderful day in this haven of peace. Played piano with Sr.Elizabeth. Heard that Uyo Banks refuse Biafran money.

21st Up at night 2–5 am, then late down again.

22nd Very demanding when all expecting daily rounds even when thereis only one doctor for 108 patients.

24th Trying to have a half day – but Caesarean Section in the morning.Had a film at night – a good comedy.

March 1968

3rd TIIE HOSPITAL BOMBED At 11.10 heard plane and bombs –when all quiet Sr. Eugene and I went out. When we saw a planecoming silently towards us. I ran to the Oratory as we were justpassing it, I fell to the ground and prayed ‘O my God, I’m sorry’...Then there were explosions and gunfire – very frightening. Thenwe went down to the hospital. People were bringing in thewounded. Michael Iborak died also Udo Umoh who was an in-patient with cardiac failure, and also two others. There were21 wounded.

We treated the wounded all afternoon. Sisters Eugene andElizabeth cleaning and dressing them. I was in theatre doingdebridement where necessary. We heard another plane againquite near us and we put the patient under the operating table. But it didn’t drop any more bombs on us. I had forgotten to say that there were 4 bombs dropped on the hospital earlierthat day.

Later in the afternoon we realised that we were not going to finishso we sent 3 or 4 patients to Anua for treatment. Then one of ourmaternity patients needed a Cesarean Section, so we finished theday with that! Mother Francis Xavier had returned from Anuawhen she heard our news.

5th To Aba to the hospital there. And I begged for some blood givingsets which they kindly gave me.

6th Went to Ikot Ekpene to get some splints. Then back – hastilybecause of air raid on Ikot Ekpene.


In the afternoon 2 soldiers and a civilian arrived and said theywere going to put an anti aircraft with rocket in our hospital. Wedid not want it but they said it was going up and they lookedaround.

While busy seeing orphans and trying to get them home (to theirfather) Sister Marius rushed into the compound looking forMother Francis Xavier, saying that Sisters Augustine, Veronica andherself had to leave Akpa Utong at half an hour’s notice.

Ikot Ekpene Evacuating

27th Sisters Leonie, Pacelli, Marguerite, Teresita, Consolata andPatricia Ann left. Several wounded arrived. 5 mostly shellshocked. 9 deaf and talking loudly. Sisters Gertrude, Marius andAugustine came from Ikot Ekpene because everyone leaving from there.

28th Sisters went to Port Harcourt but could not get past bridge on ourside. Finally decided to go with Frs. Clinton, Deegan, Scanlon andCurran. Loaded up with food to go to PH but got as far as themission and decided to stay!

A full term woman who had walked from Uyo came at 4.30 – then 7 soldiers came – some with shell shock and all fatigued.Then 2 militia men who had been beaten up arrived.

The Orphans

Worried about the 15 orphan babies we have in the Children’sWard. Adopted one out today to Grace Thompson – a goodwoman. Still so many to feed and milk low. We have no time to listen to wireless these days but meet mainly for meals. Fr. Mullen says Ikot Ekpene is completely deserted.

29th Very busy in OPD – quite a few wounds. In theatre with man withgunshot wound through the shoulder when a lorry of 30 came.They were treated – had dinner – then another lorry load of men.The man with the shoulder wound began to bleed – so back totheatre. Sister Eugene was kept busy. Then another group arrivedwho had mainly small wounds – ‘pains all over’ – deaf etc.

21st Very fast plane flew over us. Lay flat in refectory.

22nd Showed Fr. Sharkey our farm. News that Onitsha had been taken.Roads full of people with children and household goods moving.Mother Francis Xavier came and said that either Sister Leonie or I were to go and she would let us know.

Anua Evacuating

23rd Did OPD clinic – nearly all the people gone by 10 am. All refuse to stay. Letter from Anua saying that Anua people have beenadvised to move and are coming here, as people have beenadvised to evacuate.

24th Car loads coming from Anua – Drugs etc. Message that Leoniewill be going. I met a long line of soldiers at junction coming to Urua Akpan. At 5 pm Aeroplane. All soldiers fled. At 5 pm a woman with a gunshot wound of back – through kidney, liver, gallbladder and hepatic flexure. Sr, Leonie and I in theatre 7–11 pm. Terrible. Anua sisters arrived. Planes ++. Uyo bombed.

25th OPD 45 patients. Planes over 2–3 times – all staff ran. Later Leonieand I were walking down by the Nurses’ Home and heard a sigh.Saw the woman who was operated on last night standing trying tohold on to the hedge with one hand and holding her bottle of blood in the other hand. All the nurses had left her. We carried her to the verandah and laid her down. In theafternoon – 3 wounded – in theatre all afternoon.

Ikot Ekpene Hospital Closed Down

At 5 pm 17 wounded arrived who had been sent from Ikot Ekpene hospital which had closed down. In theatre 5–8pm andward rounds 8.30–10 pm. Sisters Marie Conlon and Laurena went to Port Harcourt.

26th Loud noise ?bombs ?guns. All staff nurses, interpreters, labourersran for life. Went down and there was a shot woman. Only one tohelp was Okereke – laundry man – helped me to put her on to amattress and tidy her up.


chest. But the BP was 110/70. It had all happened 18 hourspreviously.

There were no theatre staff. Sr. Eugene prepared and we askedMrs. Hogan to help.

A blood transfusion was set up – then in a few minutes it crashedto the floor. It was our last one! We finished 6 hours later at 2 pmand we also were finished! Rest – then went to see the ward andpatients and discovered that they had had no food all day. I madesome gari for the first time and found some soup. They weredelighted and fed the babies again!

A New Night Staff !

30th An ex lab boy came and asked for a baby and so we gave him one.Now we had 7 orphans. Sr. Elizabeth was still staying up all nightlooking after the patients.

We all tried to start the engine so we would have light at night but we failed. Then Fr. Frawley came and managed it. But no one was able to start the water engine.

31st Up at night with Sr. Elizabeth for a delivery then spent wholemorning alone in Children’s Ward preparing and giving babyfeeds and Sr. Elizabeth went to bed. Spent afternoon alone in andout of the Labour Ward delivering Rosaleen. Hospital deserted.Then through the window saw two soldiers walk up thecompound to the house and back again. Who were they?

April 1968

1st People came wanting to adopt orphans. Delighted. Got paperssigned. Fr. Johnson did night duty. Fr. O’Dwyer went to Aba tolook for orphan Justina’s father. She made friends with everyoneon the way. At one point a soldier put his gun through the window– she shook hands with it and he withdrew it.

2nd Very tired. Last orphan adopted. Chief Andrew visited and said toexpect friends. Casualties came – gunshot and matchet wounds.Visited farm – picked corn and it was lovely.

Then all our staff ran

29th Suddenly everyone ran and said there was trouble down the road.Most of the patients went. We were surprised to see our nurseshurrying away with loads on their heads. So they must have beenprepared, we said.

Sister Eugene said ‘How about a cup of tea?’ The orphan boy withan eye tumour was crying and clinging to my hand, so we tookhim up for tea with us. Then we went down to the hospital toreview the situation. We found only 6 in the Male Ward. And Fr.Mullen said he’d take Andrew, aged 7, with a bad thigh wound,whose father was killed in an air raid, a child with a fracturedfemur and Asuquo with an eye tumour to their homes. They werehappy and went.

All the nurses had left so we decided to have all the patients inone ward. Frs. Mullen, Cronin and I moved the 6 men to theEmergency Ward. Then we started to make the orphan babies’feeds. There were two men with severe leg wounds and they weredelighted to help to feed the babies. When I went to pick them up I said ‘Eyen fo owop eba ofon?’ Which means ‘Did the babysuck the breast well’ when I thought it meant ‘Did the baby feed well?, They laughed and said ‘Yes’.

Fr. Mullen sat in the Male Ward all night and Sr. Elizabeth workedin Children’s Ward and kept an eye on Female Ward.

30th Went down at 6.20 to see if three men could go and found awoman with obstructed labour coming in. I went for Sr. Eugeneand needing someone to interpret I asked Lucy – a diminutivehouse girl – to come down to the hospital. But the patient waswild and Lucy wouldn’t go near her. So we called Ete and she wasgood. Then with a vacuum extraction there was a live baby. Thenbreakfast!

A man brought in with machete cuts – three on head down to thebone – also through the lobe of his ear and 5 inches down his neck– quite deep. His left hand was cut off above the wrist, another 3–4 inch long on the right knee, and a 3 inch one on right


Finally Sr. Eugene gave the anaesthetic, Sr. Elizabeth assisted andthe lab boy Emmanuel held the arm. We had to show him how to put on gloves.

We were just about to start when a dying dehydrated child camein and an intraperitoneal drip was put up. Then a critically illwoman with pelvic infection came. So, rapid exam and treatmentordered. Then the whole hospital staff of 3 retired to theatre forthe op. for if we didn’t get it done soon the blue girls only stay 1–2 hours and would soon be gone. With some trepidation I began to saw through the bone. It wasn’t going very well and Isaid ‘Oh. I can’t do it. I can’t do it!’ Sr. Eugene said ‘Oh, yes youcan, you are just going to jolly well do it’. With renewed energy I started again and completed the job. We cleaned the leg and cut a skin graft with a razor blade on the end of a forceps. Then applied the graft. Anaesthetic was pentothal and largactilwith planocaine locally.

Fr. Cronin came from Oron yesterday and said 16 refugees hadslept in his house that night. All their homes had been burnt bythose living west of them. We are cooking for 14 in-patients in thehospital kitchen but food is lessening.

Two men came to the house at three and shouted ‘May we comeup’ ‘No, I’m coming down’ They were soldiers and said they arenow back and would we write to the nurses to come back. I said‘And Where would we post the letters?

They hoped that we would look after them when they were sick.We wondered what group they were from.

Frs. M and C went to Oron and found the house empty – theybrought the Blessed Sacrament back with them.

PALM SUNDAY

7th Went to the Centre next to the Mission where palms were to beblessed. There were about 20 people including 8 children. Frs.Frawley, Cronin, Johnson and Mullen and about 30 soldiers.Father said ‘Let us go in peace.’ There was then a very loud bangand most of the congregation fled. After a few minutes theprocession to the church started – there were now very few of us!

3rd Sr. Eugene and I dressed Joseph’s amputated arm in theatre andas the bone was sticking through the soft tissues we discussedwhether we could improve it. Looked up in a surgical book andfound where the essential blood supply was. Decided it would be better to amputate a further 3–4 inch and then the bone could be covered with soft tissue. (which it was not at the time).Sr. Eugene and I then went to theatre to familiarise ourselves as to where everything was.

Fr. Johnson did well on night duty leaving everything ship shape.Fr. Frawley was heard saying to him last night ‘Be sure you haveplenty of nappies before you go because I ran short last night’.

Only one nurse here today – Mary Vincent who stayed one and ahalf hours and three men who filled water tanks then all aloneagain except for Anastasia who had lost contact with her family.

We are now surrouded by road blocks – we hear.

Everyone is armed with a matchet when leaving this compound.We decided we must stop working the whole long day and so tookrecreation at 6.30. Heard that Fr. Frawley had been to Oron andcould not get back because of all the trees felled across the road,but he got back on a bike.

4th Another orphan came back dehydrated and the ‘mother’ decidedshe did not want him.

We dressed Joseph’s arm in theatre and looked to see how wewould amputate a little and bring the other tissues together. We looked for a saw and found one on the bottom shelf and Fr. Mullen sharpened it. We tested it on a piece of meat. Wecouldn’t find any other orthopaedic instruments. I read in thesurgery book how to amputate the lower part of the forearmensuring a good supply for the length remaining, how not tosuture muscle etc.

5th Made an effort to try and get someone to help Sr. Eugene and I to do the amputation on Joseph’s arm where the bone was now protruding 2 inches beyond the skin and was dirty.


22nd Moved women and children to Women’s Ward and left previousward for men.

Invited to visit refugee camp where some of the peoplehave been forced to go.

Shell particles on roof during siesta. Fr. from Nto Edino came andasked us to go to the refugee camp.

24th To Aba hospital to try and get blood – but none. Saw and smelt apile of corpses in the street.

26th Huge clinic. Fr. Conway brought boy with appendicitis. Operated5–7 pm. Found an abscess also.

Gave Fathers a lesson on putting on gloves.

27th Skin graft on Okon. Fr. Cronin scrubbed up. In the middle of itheard that a woman with bullet wounds had arrived. She wasgoing to farm. Two shots – hand and leg. Fr. Isidore came withpasses to visit sick people.

Long clinic – spent evening getting out drugs.

About this time a letter came by hand – it had taken some weeksto travel from hand to hand through the country. It was fromDrogheda asking if we thought we should come home. We answered that now people were being put in refugee camps – unable to move – and we felt we should stay and bring health care to them. The next time we saw a Father who was goingup country we gave the letter to him and then it would go from hand to hand and eventually to someone who was flying home.

28th Bigger congregation at Mass. In pm had strangulated hernia. At St.Vincent de Paul meeting 41 malnourished people werediscussed. After Mass some people wanted medals. Patrick andhis 9 children were hungry – tried to help.

Heard that the army had forcibly evacuated people in an area onemile by nine to prevent spying. They were in refugee camps.

In the afternoon there were many sick at OPD. After seeing thepatients I then ran around to the pharmacy to give the medicines.Removed drain from Joseph’s arm – only slightly infected.

8th Large OPD again. Girl who had bullet in abdomen not doing well.Picked our last corn. Sister Brigidine is kept busy trying to findfood for us to eat – and cooking too.

9th Boy with a knife wound through his eye arrived at 7 pm.

10th Sr. Brigidine and Frs. Mullen and Cronin went to Aba for shoppingand to take the boy with the eye wound to Dr. Okechukwu, theeye specialist at the hospital. I had no expertise and no eyeinstruments. To my surprise they returned with a letter asking me to do the operation. To remove the eye. They said it would be dangerous for him to be in the same ward as the other patients in Aba – in view of where he came from.

11th Went to Aba to see Dr. Okechukwu and get a lesson on how to do an eye evisceration. The car broke down but eventuallysome soldiers gave me a lift. So I received the lesson and a gift of the necessary eye instruments.

12th Did the eye op – Sr. Eugene giving pentothal and cocaine eyedrops, Sr. Elizabeth assisting. Went to ceremonies and jumpedevery time there was a thud (we called them ‘Bessies’). Joseph and myself reading from the same missal. He didn’t jump! Tried to do some weeding on our farm but it is almost beyond us.

14th EASTER

Quite a big congregatiion. Fr. Conway also came and said therewere homeless people around him. St Vincent de Paul meeting.Joseph Ete said he had about 50 refugees in his compound fromAka Adauto. We will visit tomorrow. BBC said that Tanzania hasrecognised Biafra, but heard it on no other news.

21st Lt. Okafor came and asked would we be able and willing to admitsoldiers when necessary and would we have enough staff. We saidwe would try.


7th OPD so big. Now gave IP blood transfusion to child whose Hgbwas less than 10%. Have Lucy all day making clothes for refugees.Fr. Mc Wey for breakfast. He says much damage in his area –houses down – people killed – refugee camps in schools. 96 atclinic – 56 children. Frs. M and ?X?X? returned from Aba andbrought milk with them. Peace talks on in London but they planUganda for real ones. Power off in Aba and Port Harcourt.

9th Hurried at clinic – but had 90. Went to refugee camp with Frs. Fand ??? and, of course, got lost again and we were told to go back.So we turned round and tried to go another way. We were carryinga young boy patient who had been seriously beaten up andaccused of crossing the river and spying. He had been in thehospital until his wounds were almost better. Then we must havetaken a turning towards the front line as we were suddenlysurrounded by soldiers. We were told to get out. Sr. Eugene, theFathers, the boy and I stood with our backs to the side of the car. The soldiers said ‘Give us the boy and we’ll let you go’. Werefused. I thought the soldiers looked as though they were ondrugs.

This repetition went on and on for about a half an hour. Then one of us got an idea and said in a very demanding voice. ‘Take us to your commander’. And to my surprise they got into vehicles – one in front of us and one behind and drove off thro’the bush. We arrived at a clearing and the commander was sittingat a table. As soon as he saw us he said. ‘Oh, Sr. Eugene, how niceto see you. You remember me when I was in your ward after anoperation? He listened to us – and then sent a guide to take us tothe camp.

We hear we also are to be evacuated

15th We heard that everyone is to be evacuated including ourselves.They proposed that we stay in the refugee camp or else near it. Wewere taken to Ikot Imo Essien where we saw an ex teacher’s houseand two school houses. They offered this or bible college house.I saw that all the windows were broken in these houses and thedoors were not safe and we refused.

29th Worst clinic ever – 123 pts. 50% wanted immediate attention.Raced throough because going to refugee camp at Nto Edinol thisway and that – through the bush. Went there with Fr. Frawley –got lost. We had been told how to get there, ‘Don’t keep on themain roads – because you won’t get there. Start off on the road,then turn right into the bush road which you will see, then turn right at the pile of sand and go for another mile or so and then turn left at the big tree. But we got lost! Eventually wearrived to find 120 waiting. Five in cardiac failure – many withmalnutrition – kwashiorkor – marasmus – gross anaemia – TB – 3 with chronic retention of urine – few wounds and one withascites whom we brought back with us. Fr. Isidore helped me andFr. Sylvanus and Fr. Frawley helped Sr. Eugene. Fr. Mullen verysick after TAB.

30th Worst OPD clinic ever. Confusion and bad temper betweengroups. Fr. Mullen quite sick, T.102. No prayers today. Fr.O’Sullivan came. Long talk re situation – understands very well.

May 1968

1st Felt sick. Pain in back T100.4. Took Resochin. Struggled up toward rounds. Staff are getting used to it and not running away asbefore. 20 in Male Ward and 20 in Women’s and Children’s Ward.

Evening dealing with shell wounds which were much deeper thanI thought – 2–3 inches through shoulder. Then a placenta praevia!

5th Sunday – still weak. St.Vincent de Paul meeting but ony had 6shillings to give out.

A Surprise Visit about this time. One day an unexpected thing happened. A car drove up the drive. It was Fr. DonalO’Sullivan and he had brought us a large jam jar full of the newmoney – of which we had none! We were very happy to have it.

6th Fr. Umana came to say that he now had 300 refugees in his camp.He nearly had to leave but a friendly officer approved their work.Cut corn for one hour on Sr. Agnes’s farm with Daniel.


One militia man came and needed an appendicectomy. Theappendix and the caecum were very inflamed. Just the threesisters in the theatre – no staff anywhere else. Srs. Eugene andElizabeth shared night duty. Sr. Brigidine went to Aba and metAdj. Bassey who said that we could stay on here as long asequipment was moved – a letter was coming.

Letter to say that nurses, drugs and equipment must go

21st Capt. Paulinus Nwaga arrived with a letter from Col. Oluaha tosay that drugs, nurses and equipment were to be evacuated fromthe area. Sr. Eugene started tidying the store and I checked thepatients for going. At 10.30 Capt. Oluoha (Evacuation Officer) andanother officer came. Talked much around the point but finallysaid they were going to move everything and that it would bebetter if we moved up country where we could work with ourthings. Suggested Ihiala or Owo Mama. The other officer said thatno one would ever get anything from here. It would all beremoved or blasted if necessary.

Then the locals came to see were we moving and if so to whichcamp. Eventually got down to the hospital to hear that a womanwith obstructed laour had come in. With great trouble and withAugusta’s help finally delivered the woman. Then did the sluicing– washed the floor – washed the instruments and dried them.

Patroller Emeh came and said ‘Its terrible’ I told him we wantedto visit the refugee camps but did not have enough petrol. He saidhe would try. Started to pack the pharmacy.

22nd Capt. Paulinus Nwagu and Capt. Oluaha came and things movedfast. O said beds are all to go first – so we relaxed and did wardRounds. An hour later we discovered that EVERYTHING had goneout of Mat. 1 – all the packs etc... Meanwhile I had had the chanceto talk to Paulinus and said about the necessity of havingemergency measures for obstructed labour, abdominalemergencies, wounds and such like. Found Sr. Eugene andPaulinus in the FW store. Told them that both the vacuumextractors had gone. We said we will have to get them back.

16th Word of wholesale evacuation must have got around becausestaff left and 15 women and children from the ward fled andothers were waiting for discharge. So no staff. But P. Ene sent asergeant to help me in the OPD, which was big. Now no one tocarry water, wash linen, sluice nappies etc. We worked allafternoon and evening. Both our orphans had diarrhoea.

17th Several patients from the refugee camp were returned there.Some of the militia next door supplied food.

Talked to Francis, a lovely boy with chronic nephritis, and toldhim we would give him tablets when he goes to the camp. He said‘If I am going to die, let me stay with you and die here.’ Peoplereally can’t believe that we are going to be sent. Fr. O’Sullivancame and said he thinks we should stay with the people – theywould never forget. Here if possible, if not, some place near the camp. It is a blessing when he comes. Lt. Col. Oluha was tocome today for our final decision but he didn’t come. Went to Nto Edino today for our usual clinic. So many sick but had to leave at 6.10. Awful leaving those who had waited allafternoon without being seen. Like a scene from MonsiourVincent. Came back and put on a POP. Sr. Elizabeth fed babies.Men quiet and not demanding. Now have 16 men, 1 woman and3 children.

18th Deputation from camp. Would we go out? Sr. E and I went outwith Fr. F and PM. We saw many at a great rate including 5 tropical ulcers covered in goat’s hairs, several with kwashiorkor,4 with heart failure. osteomyelitis of the maxilla and scabies++++for which we had no treatment.

19th Mass at Urua Akpan. About 5 militia and the captain came. Then 3 hours work in central supply. So much to do there.

Port Harcourt taken by Federals

Heard on the news that Port Harcourt was taken and is cut off.Arranged with Mr. Okoli to take Ireneus to Ihiala.

Fr. Cronin is sick with a broken infected tooth.


P. Eneh came and as legs were tired I sat down while he told mewhat he thought about the war, about the Catholic church andabout missionaries. ‘Just look at sister there (Sr. Elizabeth) justcarrying on her work as tho’ nothing is happening – everythingthat really counts that we have – this ideal of LOVE one anotherthat we have – we got from the missionaries.’ He said he didn’tlike war – if it was just a matter of politicians he wouldn’t bother– but when women in Labour Wards and children are beingslaughtered...’

(I can’t read my writing after that bit).

We thought that however bad things were that we should go outto refugee camps and so went to Ikot Eno Essen – and there wasa big clinic in a school building where many families had theirhomes. The walls were lined with basins, mats, stools, food andeverything imaginable. Three newborn babies were presented alllooking well. One three month baby was dying.

Spent 8–11 pm with Sr. Eugene taking the linen off the beds of theChildren’s Ward. Then we emptied the Air Raid Emergencycupboard which had taken 2 weeks to organise. Fell into bed atmidnight. Next day lorries here again to continue evacuation –beds from the wards. Sr. Elizabeth completely alone with 4 perpetually crying orphans, and 4 soldiers and militiamen. Each came up to the house as they had asked for bandages and Igave them. Had coffee with Emmanuel Ani, another officer whotold us of his cousin who married a Spanish girl – Maria. He hadgone to the wedding in Spain. I thought that as we were chattingaway everything out of Urua Akpan was being carried gaily away– things that Srs. Petria, Loreto, Sr. Eugene and so many othershad worked so hard for. Thought that perhaps this comes in thecategory of ‘Blessed are they when they persecute you for myname’s sake. Be glad and rejoice.’ Sr. Elizabeth said she can seeno good in it , it is destructive not constructive.

I thought of how upset I was yesterday that the people here were being deprived of their medical care and had I done all Ishould to keep it. I had wanted to go yesterday to Olehi and

B I A F R A N W A R D I A R Y18

Sr. Pauline in Children's Ward.

Sr. M. Eugene. Sr. Brigidine.

Sr. Elizabeth in Children's Ward.

Sr. Pauline operating. Sr. Pauline in canoe.

Sr. Pauline operating.

Sisters Pauline and Elizabeth, pictured at St. Luke's Hospital, Anua, before both were assigned to St. Mary's Hospital, Urua Akpan. Later in life, they lived in the same community in Nairobi, Kenya.

explain to him that people would die if we went. But I couldn’tbecause a woman with obstructed labour came and I was withher all afternoon. One captain had taken 3 sick people away and had reiterated that all must go except emergencies. I got aclue when he told me that Olehi didn’t want to meet me and hadpurposely not come to the hospital. Those on the evacuation werefrustrated because no store was big enough to put the things theytook away. They thought it was a bush clinic not a big hospital.

We got a shock this morning when we heard the our twoVincentian fathers staying in Urua Akpan presbytery were leavingus and going up country. So they said good bye and left.

Spent all afternoon and evening packing a suitcase for allnecessary things for emergency operations.

One militia began to ‘go for top’ – the local expression for talkingor behaving abnormally. Its very difficult when those removingour things send us a list of their own sick demanding treatment –even as our drugs are going through the door. Sr. Eugene had atiring day going to see Oluaha to try and get the vacuum pumpsback. She said our stuff was in secondary school 3 miles this side of Aba. She rescued the pumps.

Today she stayed with them as they emptied the garage, shed andstore. With the theatre still intact I am busy collecting needles,blades, syringes, gauze, gowns, instruments, nylon, catgut, andso many things one needs for ‘kitchen ‘surgery. I feel that we maynever use it yet I feel we should hold enough back to do anemergency operation. Fr. Umana came – he had been all day totry and get food. Tried all day to get petrol and failed and finallya Chinese man gave him some.

At night I used to go down to the hospital in the pitch dark. Notorch on purpose. And remove medicine from the pharmacy andany ward still not emptied out. Then we put them in a trunk inour house – for the camps. One night I reached the tall medicinecupboard of a ward and was suddenly aware of a figure standingnext to the cupboard – unmoving and silent. I got an awful fright

U R U A A K P A N 1 9 6 8 23

Top photo: Sister Marius Powelland below Sister M. Augustine

Sheridan at Akpa Utong.

Sr. M. FrancisXavier Boyle

was RegionalSuperior insouth-east

Nigeriaduring the

Biafra War.

People from Oron there. Brought the stools out of the Children’sWard and people delighted. I stayed back because of patients inthe ward and packed a trunk prepared in theatre. In thecompound the grass is growing high and the paths are full ofgrass. At night so many frogs everywhere. Empty wards litteredand we have so much to do and no staff to sweep.

30th Thursday – First anniversary of Biafra. Spent itemising drugs in our trunk in the house – our reserve for the ward and camp. In the ward we have:

Veronica – cerebral palsy from Use Abat – takes 1 hour to feed;

Adiaha – aged 13 with symphisiotomy and baby;

her brother also sick;

Johnson – acute appendicitis;

Gabriel – ruptured appendix and peritonitis;

? Name – Tropical myositis;

Francis – Acute psychosis;

? Name – Cellulitis;

? Name – Observation for appendicitis.

Only help sister has is Joseph 1–2 hours in the morning and hegets water and flushes sluice.

The Second Phase

Heard that Ojukwu spoke and he said that the second phase ofthe war is starting – guerilla war. Boys must be trained and go tohome places behind the lines. The struggle must continue.

All around here is very quiet except for shelling now and then andoccasional machine gun fire. Petrol is very scarce – would like togo to Nto Edino but no petrol. Even the fathers are feeling thepinch, and are not going out till Sunday. Some people are ridingmotor bikes instead of cars.

and managed to blurt out something. He answered and it turnedout to be our old night watch man – a man I knew. After that wewent two at a time.

25th A man came with a gunshot wound – his thumb blown off. Had tostart boiling things up as all packs were dismantled. Johnson(militia) helped in the theatre. Lt. Col. Olehi came to our surprise.We showed him the three remaining wounded soldiers. He spentquite a time at the bed of Veronica with cerebral palsy. He thoughtthat Emekuku hospital would take her.

27th Monday – Went to refugee camp in pouring rain. There was a manthere with appendicitis. We brought him back and spent theafternoon gathering all the things one needs to operate after twodays of scattering them – to evacuate! Johnson again came andhelped 10 pm to 2 am and I did 2 am to 6 am in ward.

28th Srs Eugene and Brigidine went up country. Learnt that planes aregoing from Uli since Port Harcourt is out. They went on toEmekuku to see if we would be of any use if we had to leave here.Found 560 patients there – 400 soldiers in one ward. 80 childrenin a ward and some in nearby school. They have 2 surgeons andnurses from all over the place. They said they would be glad tohave us if we have to leave but there would be no work for us – itmight be better to go to Ihiala and get a plane home.

Port Harcourt evacuating

A Father they met said there were STREAMS of refugees out of PHlast week walking the 60 miles to Owerri. One woman delivered ababy at one village – got up and walked and delivered the twin atthe next village. One twin died – the mother and other twin are atEmekuku. One woman delivered triplets – she and all the babiesdied. They were being strafed along the road. I am glad Sr. Eugenehad a chance to send a message to Drogheda.

29th Shelling and firing all night. On the news an item re peace talks forNigeria and Biafra. Nigeria calling for total surrender. Srs.Elizabeth and Brigidine went to the new camp across the tar.


fire. Blank faces. On a mat lying turned to the wall was a sick man. Dying – cold. I asked what was his name – no one knew. Asked when he last had water on his lips – no one knew. Asked ifhe had anyone belonging to him. They thought he had but theycouldn’t be found. Pulse down to 40. No one knew how long hehad been sick or what his symptoms were. All we could do was tobaptise him.

Drove back through a densely populated area where peole hadbeen evacuated to – then suddenly at a road block there was noone and empty houses and roads for the last half mile.

2nd PENTECOST – Mass and then at breakfast Ayeline came to askfor tomatoes as so little food available – only rice, gari and oil. Wegot some milk ready for them. R came to say all were movingtoday – he was happy as he would see his wife. Gave him milk, socks and Prayers of Life. Fixed up those in ward who weregoing – Johnson (appendix and abscess) with a cushion to sit on– Francis with a shirt and Angeline with a ‘Life of Christ’ as she asked for a book ‘because of temptation’. Had fathers to alovely dinner.

3rd Early with Captain Oluaha, Sr. Eugene to take Veronica (cerebralpalsy) to Emekuku. The place was fantastic with 7 rows of bedsacross the ward. Don’t know how they keep track of 400 soldierswho are patients.

Called at Umuahia and Mrs. Obiamiwe said she would transferthe drugs to Emekuku as they were not safe in present store. Back to Owerri and got bag of rice from Fr. Devine (hard to read my writing) and met M. Cecelia. She said that SJs had leftPort Harcourt and the Benedictine fathers. The sisters were inOwerri. Back late and called on Commander and gave him milkfor ulcer.

4th To Nto Edino with Fr. Umana at 7.15. Worked till 1.15. Heardaccidental shot. Terrible – the catechists son – a bullet throughthe brain. Clinic continued 2–4.30. Saw 136.

Had corn, pumpkin and tomatoes from our farm! And we werevery glad to get salt and butter from the Catholic Relief Servie atOwerri two days ago. A houseboy said father gave them all some,then one boy sold his for 9 shillings and then wanted some of his!Still sewing for refugees but the thread expensive 10 shillings aspool.

31st Friday – Usual OPD in ward then out to Ikot Ebok camp. Thereare now 1736 people in it and the crowd waiting around thebuilding acting as dispensary was mighty – pathetic – terrible.Very hard to keep order. The militia are there to help. We work ata very fast rate to try and see as many as possible. Sr. Brigidinegave out milk, cloth and stools from the Children’s Ward – all veryexciting. Patrick Ekanem helped Sr. Elizabeth and afterwardshanded me a letter saying his chief needs money for food,blankets, kerosene and tablets.

Heard that peace talks had broken down.

Mbanafor and two others returned to Biafra from the peace talks.

June 1968

1st Saturday – Felt so awful yesterday after only seeing 100 people and 200–300 left disappointed and cross. We decided to return to the same camp.

Left at 9 and saw 136 patients. We brought them cups, pots andpans out of the Children’s Ward and all appreciated. The childrenwith kwashiorkor are terrible and are not getting better. Twopeople died in the camp yesterday. The women are verymarasmic – scabies is epidemic. Water is a problem as no one hascome to fix the well. The stream is 3 miles away and many are tootired and weak to walk there.. We brought a long rope for thebucket but it wasn’t long enough to get water from the bore hole.

We were asked to see a sick man and they took me to a buildinglike a small school but with an earth floor. There were families orpeople sitting alone all around. Each with a fire or remains of a


I have a large suitcase packed with everything necessary for‘kitchen surgery’. Sr. Eugene has the same for midwifery.

9th Sunday – Just sat down to breakfast when Oluoha came and alittle later Oboli and his wife came – the latter for a medical check.Celebrated Trinity Sunday by going to the fathers for lunch.

10th Monday – Machine gun fire and shelling started at 6 am and asFather walked into Mass a shell went off next door. A few stayedfor Mass. I thought we would be packing suitcases today and beoff. While doing mental prayer a camouflaged landrover drove upand out stepped Ol just fresh from the front with a medicalspecimen. Checked up and his health is improving. In goodspirits. Told him of Mrs. Obiamawe’s visit and what she had said.I wanted to be sure we would keep enough supplies for refugees.Then off to the camp and picked up the faithful Mrs. Hogan onthe way. Called at Patrick Ekandem’s and brought lovely dressesfor his children. The faithful Anthony was waiting for us and theclinic was peaceful. But at the end at 2.45 when very hungry andtired the whole militia camp of 12 turned up for treatment. I wasreally annoyed and said if they were all sick they should report totheir officer and get replacements. I asked the sergeant to pickout 3 sick but they all pestered me so I gave a little to each. I foundone old woman too weak to get back to camp crawling on allfours. I asked them and the locals to help her. None moved.Finally I bent down and carried her 50 yards to the other hallwhere medicines were being given – and then in the car for aquarter of a mile to the camp.

It seems that at every clinic for fear that we should think well ofourselves something like this happens so that we get annoyedand say more than we mean and then have pangs of conscience.But how to be kind and gentle to a gang of healthy men who wantmedicine for medicine’s sake is beyond me.

Then two doctors came asking for drugs for the camps they go to.It seems that until we are gone for good we are going to bepestered. Frs. Frawley and Cronin went up country to see Fr.Mullen to day.

5th Operation umbilical hernia and then to Ikot Eno Essien and saw96 patients. There were 800 in camp. In the afternoon went to anew clinic and saw 60 more.

6th Sr. Elizabeth to Aba with broken tooth.

7th Friday – Went with Mrs. Hogan to Ikot Ebok. Sr. Eugene went tostore to itemise drugs, and Sr. Brigidine to Aba, Itot Ebok withcrowd all shouting to get in. 500 people. Finally I got up and wentout and things improved. The chief of Police Mwingwe from IkotEkpene came and watched the passing out of the Civil DefenderUnit. Started the clinic again – pandemonium. Finally thecommandant got people about 20 yards away – but had to usewhips and sticks. As I was working I saw a shadow in front of meand it was Olehi. He said he was shocked to see someone using awhip – ‘Why were the people like this?’ I said ‘Too many people inone place – camp life.’ He said he wasn’t feeling well and wouldcome and see me. We saw 136 patients and left leaving an angryand disturbed crowd behind. I would have stayed longer if theyhad been orderly. When I returned I found that Fr. Doran hadbeen. He was here for 24 hours and then was flying back. He saidthat those at home are anxious about us. He was taken aback bythe quietness and lack of people around us. He took messagesback. In the evening M. Effiong (soldier) and fiancee came andsaid they were marrying soon. Asked if he was a Catholic and hesaid ‘Coming close – she is a Catholic and went to Holy Ghostschool at Asssengawamy – we gave her rosary.

8th Saturday – Stayed back to look after sick in ward and do odd jobs. Olehi came and had medical check up. Then Fr. Cronincame and talked about the situation with him. O said he wishedfor peace only. Srs. Eugene and Elizabeth had returned toyesterday’s clinic and seen 140 more patients. We sat down todinner at 2.45 when Mrs. Obiamawe, the Chief of Police and 2 bodyguards arrived. She was very fearful coming down here.She said she wanted ALL the drugs and ALL the equipment to goto Emekuku. She did not say it when I was there. I think it ismorally wrong to leave these people without at least 4 beds for emergency operations and difficult deliveries.


When we give milk from here the next day there are double thenumber of people. Pharmacy is not open and there is no nurse.Suggest we do one clinic here a week when we would be reallyready. Then as an afterthought – the number that would want tocome wouldn’t get thro’ the road block.

The time has come

At 10 o’clock tea Srs E and E thought the time had come – we hadsaid that we would go if the shelling was near especially as thehospital staff was evacuated now. I did not feel that the shellingwas near, in fact it has often been nearer. But I did not say it asthe other two were keen for immediate action and I would notstop them. But ten minutes later Fr. F came and said he had beentalking to the Officer Commanding and he said that all was goingwell, in fact never better! After lunch Nama and Billie came andsaid they were married this morning – civilly. They asked us tolunch tomorrow. We were sad there was no Church wedding, and I asked about it and they said ‘We hope soon’. We are not sure whether they were married native law and custom butboth have rings. We looked for a present and decided on theJerusalem Bible.

Mama who had dysentery and James (strangulated hernia) bothwent home today and now for the first time in 21 years thehospital has no patients and no nurses. A child came in withdehydration but only stayed the day on IP drip.

Spent time sorting Sr. Leonie’s books – the good ones into mytrunk and the old ones into wardrobe. Then cleaned out my ownpermanent suitcase where a cockroach was residing. The petrolsituation is desperate – four pounds a gallon on black market andpeople ready to sell are waiting to take you to the place at fillingstations.

16th Sunday – Woke to sound of fairly near machine gun fire at 6.05 am. A little later shelling but more distant. Fr. Umana cameand said that Dr. J had left him and were we coming again. Wegave him much cloth. Talked about the morning’s noises and thesituation. A plane – a MIG – passed very near and we heard

11th Tuesday – Had promised Fr. Umana we would come so set off and drove for the first time alone with Brigidine. Every other timewe got lost as we have to go a roundabout way as the bridge isdown. Found the compound a hive of industry – garri making. Fr. had not expected us and had organised a work day. They buya plot of land with cassava on it ready to be harvested. One group picks it and another peels it, then it is cut up smaller andput in a sieve. The sieve is home made – a piece of iron with a naildriven through it many many times, then heated and oil added – and finally put out on a mat for 24 hours to dry. Some iseaten and some is sold to buy another cassava patch. After some time we saw some patients.

12th Glad to stay back after some busy days. So tidied mess in tailor’sstore – took about 2 hours. Nenna came in the evening and askedfor a book on the Catholic religion as B was thinking of becominga catholic. After quick search gave her ‘Partnership in Christ,’ by Eugene Boylan.

Went with Frs. Frawley and Cronin and Sr. Brigidine to UruaInyan and found 1100+ refugees in college dormitories. Livingconditions better than at camp but overcrowding all the same.Long tedious clinic with usual crowd and shouting to get in at thewindow. Had nasty search at a road block returning and dinnerabout 2 pm.

14th Sr. Elizabeth has fever. Did Ikot Ebok clinic – well organised foronce. But we have not got enough petrol to go tomorrow sostayed longer than usual and saw 168 patients. There was shellingon and off. Sr. Brigidine went to Aba and on the way back met aFirst Aid van with wounded and shell shocked stuck on the roadwith no petrol. She drove the driver to get petrol. Very quietaround here locally – I think something will happen soon.

15th Saturday – Glad to have a day when I don’t have to go to a camp– but found a relatively large crowd turning up at the hospital.Now there is no OPD, no one for finding charts and we are notgeared for it. It was confusing but think we will have to dosomething about it. Each woman brought 3 or 4 children.


a post partum haemorrhage. There was a partial rupture left sidebut not thro’ all. Packed her without speculum or forceps – withhands. So bush! BP 50 Pulse 160. Gave IV and stayed with her until1.30 when she was improving.

Sr. Brigidine went to Ikot Eno Essien and brought 300 pieces ofcloth which we had been saving up – some made by two tailors inMrs. H’s compound and some altered sister’s cloth.

Sr. Elizabeth sick in bed – has a rash – and worse – dengue. Shehas got to know Teihard de Chardin and has the peace and quietin her little room to appreciate him.

Two lorries came for Diesel, then two cars – one from theChristian Council of Churches. They brought a wonderful supplyof drugs for the refugees. Then they said ‘But are you thinking ofgoing?’ I said ‘We live from day to day’. and then describedyesterday. He said he’d been to Urua Inyang and Nto Edino.

I asked him how the camps there compared with the camps upcountry. He said that Nto Edino would be compared with theworst camp around Umuahia. I said it was the best camp aroundhere. After this and especially after the short radio talk by TedKennedy thanking the thousands of ordinary people who hadsent messages I thought how could we leave these people whenreal danger is not that imminent.

Dr. Middlehoop said he catered for 40,000 refugees but has 6nurses helping at each camp visit and they see the patients andalso refer to him.

Our patient’s BP was 75/50 when the IV came down so it had to goup again.

At mental prayer believed it was God’s will that we should stayuntil danger near but be ready to go all the time. This is really thefirst time in religious life that my conscience as a doctor tells meone thing. The people in this area have no doctor. The Christianhospital will not take women and children. I believe that in thenext week the Lord will make things clear, so that this conflict ofconscience will be settled.

bombs dropping in the middle distance. We were under the stairs.Then they came over again – right over the compound but a littlehigher than the day we were bombed. Felt if things continued wewould be on our way.

Sr. Eugene and Sr. Brigidine went to see the evacuation officerabout the remaining staff – (? In the house as I think we had oneor two house girls who could not get home) Sr. Eugene and I wentto the Archbishop carrying the Jerusalem Bible. Billie came invery exhausted and we left soon. Met him by the river carryingthe wounded and dead from the air raid. It was on a village not farfrom Ikot Eno Essien camp. 16 were killed and large numberwounded. They were taken to Aba.

In the eveing OL and Okoli came and we told them we wereconsidering moving as we knew we would not be told if there wasdanger – all would run to Aba. He disagreed and said we would betold – in fact he would do it if he was around. But we know he hasno petrol and is often on the road looking for a lift.

Being somewhat prepared

We had been told by (I think) Fr. Doran, that if and when we go wemust go in ‘ordinary’ dress. So we went to a cupboard in thegarage where we had clothes for the poor. We picked out what wethought would be nice and then tried them on and paraded upand down the upstairs corridor. ‘How do I look in this?’ Answer‘Terrible – try again.’ So we did and eventually we had our clothesplanned and we thought we looked great!

17th Monday – 5.15 am Lorry came to take (can’t read) Brigidine, Justina and Augusta to Nto Edino. At 7.15 am a man came to ourhouse to say that his wife had been in labour for three days. Wesighed because we had just got the Hospital empty, theinstruments had gone and there was a camp planned for today.Sr. Brigidine went out to pick her up and she was VERY ill with aprolapsed arm for 12 hours. There was trouble gathering thingsfrom everywhere. I opened my emergency pack, my emergencysurgery book and took out the Caesarean Section instruments.But did breech extraction under pentothal and ether. There was


then did the biggest clinic ever – 170. Mary Edet gave medicinesand later Sr. Brigidine and Mrs. Hogan injections. Remembered toorder OPTs so will try and do vaccinations. Left at 3.15 – most ofthe children were worse than ever before and then discoveredthey were not the camp children but were from Eding Esinuk andIkot Idem. Planned to do clinic there Tuesday if people want it.

Sr. Eugene returned from Emekuku after a hard day. Captain Ohad not wanted things to go there and did not encourage his mento help. Okoli helped. Captain O said ‘1 will seize Mrs. Obiamweon our way thro’ Umuahia’ and on the way down said ‘I will dropher alive’. (He wanted our things to go to Ihiala his home place).

22nd Saturday – On our way to Mass (late) we met watch night walkingout of our gate with plastic bed covers. We then realised that manyof our bedcovers had gone. Lt. Col. Ol arrived at 7.30. Gun fire andshelling for past few hours. (Can’t read next few lines) Less talkingof going now and more about refugees but shelling ratherpersistent and fairly loud this afternoon.

23rd Sr. Elizabeth and 1 went to Ikot Idem for Mass. Lovely bushchurch. Fine to hear congregation singing hymns lustily miles outin the bush. The soldiers gave themselves names written on theircaps – ‘Fearless Fang’ and ‘Temptation Boy’ and ‘Bad Boy’. Again after dinner Sr. Eugene said she thought we should go and I said that was alright as she is our superior and I do not want to make things hard for her. Sr. B said ‘I thought there wouldbe some warning either shelling or the militia pulling out’.Fr.Frawley said he wanted to go on a few days holiday to Fr. Mullen. He mentioned it as he did not want to go and leave Fr. Cronin alone.

24th Monday – Sr. Eugene not feeling well but said she wanted to cometo a clinic – Ikot Umo Essien. A bad plane came over in the middleof it. Fr. Frawley said he was leaving only for 3 or 4 days – so nomore talk about us leaving today.

Ikot Ebok camp commander stopped us to tell us that 60 refugeescaptured from Ikot Ekpene had just arrived in a bad state andwould we do clinic. Agreed.

18th Tuesday – Expecting Oluha to come all day with a lorry to take theremaining things to Emekuku. Didn’t come until 6 pm with Okoliand wife sick – Captain Chukwu sick – Captain Igwu to report...on wife – sick – Fr. McWey rather surprised by all. Fr. Umana hadcome earlier to say that Dr. Jacobs was to be arrested. He hadtaken money for one purpose and used it for another. Went IkotEno Essien.

19th Old lady with strangulated hernia brought and only two medics,Sr. Eugene and I. Sr. Elizabeth in bed with dengue. So as the DOturned up he took her to Aba. Deo Gratias.

20th Mrs. A had sent note asking to come back and work and Sr. E hadwritten ‘Hospital closed by government order’ and knowing shewould be taken to court – went to Aba to see solicitor but he wasout – but did arrange for diesel lorry to come to take things toEmekuku in one or two days.

To our surprise Mr McGraw turned up again and said that theCoordinating Committee on the Owerri road had asked him to goto camps and he had done clinic in Obon Ukwa and then foundthat we had done one the previous day. 1 told him 1 had given alist of our five clinics to Dr. Middlehoop but he had not passedthem on.

Mr McGraw (Seskatchewan) offered then to take over all ourclinics. I told him the only reason we were staying on was to lookafter the refugees.

All of a sudden a mighty wind just like Pentecost – the nextmoment Mr McG was lying prone in a corner and a moment laterSr. Eugene and 1 realised that it was a very Iow jet swooping overus and we joined him on the floor. However it dropped nothingbut Mr McG was very white. He said then it would be difficult forhim to do all the clinics as it was so far – but did we want any help.Sr. Eugene felt that Urua Inyang was too much for us, especiallywith Sr. Elizabeth sick so we asked him to do it temporarily.

21st Friday – Sr. Eugene went early to collect truck a quarter of a milelong to remove remaining trolleys and operating table. Admin.Bassey came to collect them. Then he took me to the camp and


29th Karl Rahner – Mission and Grace – ‘when, for example, a concretehuman being, (whether he is aware of it or not is, in the firstinstance, immaterial) experiences genuine personal love foranother human being, it always has a validity, an external sig -nificance and an inexpressible depth which it would not have butfor such a love is so constitutes as to be a way of actualising thelove of God as a human activity, springing from God’s own act.’

Sisters felt we should let Mrs. Obiamawe and the Holy RosarySisters know that we were leaving. Sr. Brigidine went to Aba andOkpala to arrange transport. Sr. Eugene and I packed the cartightly with drugs, instruments, suction pump etc. and thenloaded it with camp things and then we set off for Nto Edino. We dropped Mrs. Hogan and Sr. Elizabeth there and went on toUmuahia. Met Lt. Col. Orji just outside his HQ.

Mrs. Obiamwe told Sr. Eugene that ALL staff must come upcountry where they are needed. Holy Rosary Sisters are starting akwashiorkor unit and need cots etc. She would send down 3lorries. Meanwhile I looked up Dr. Middlehoop and passed overthe camps to him. Rode on then to Emekuku, had lunch and leftdrugs. Precious instruments were left on floor. Hope they are safefor when we return.

Back then thro’ Umuahia and got lost. Finally reached St.Columban’s College and said farewell to Fr. Umana. Dreadful roadback. Night fell and couldn’t see holes and lakes. Lights failed incar. Finally got military escort last 3–4 miles.

30th Sunday – Met Fr. Umana at Olehi’s house to go to MajorArchibong’s wedding. Olehi said a message had come asking if hehad ordered us home. He was upset. We all got into cars and wentto Aba to a military wedding. Olympe was best man. Fr. Nwaforcelebrated. Chukwumiama, Theodore, Mrs. Akai and manyothers were there. Holy Rosary Srs. had met Gary Lloyd of theLondon Times who wanted to know about the situation. Then to the reception and had palm wine. Then a party with theEffiongs, Basssey, Archibongs and Chukwu who came late andgave a tremendous salute. We had rice and meat, kuola nuts and speeches. Home and tried to pack up.

25th Sr. Eugene stayed in bed. We had clinic with old men, wasted andstarving women and children. Mrs. Hogan and Mary Edet helped.

26th Sr. Elizabeth and I did the clinic. Shooting was very persistent.Before leaving we had brought passports to camp. Bad plane over6 times during clinic – we were in and out of air raid shelter.

Letter from Drogheda found that evening

Mother Mary thinks that we should go home. Letter from Sr.Leonie too and many others – it was good to get them. Althoughwe have been ready it comes as a shock to be really leaving.

27th Gathered cloth from the linen cupboards, plastic bowls, plates,nappies, sheets, milk and cereal. Went to Ikot Ebok and put outthese things. The Ik Ek people looked wild – starved. There were170 new patients. They put the worst kwashiorkor and marasmuschildren in a separate place for me to see. I spent time dressingthe wounds of children with kwashiorkor and attending to awoman who had delivered a prem. She was in a little house on amat on the floor – the baby was cold. Gave her blankets, cloth abowl and milk. Baptised the baby ‘Mfon Abas’ – God’s Goodness’.(The writing in the diary is very faint now, and hard to read). Greatfighting around Sr. Elizabeth.

The stronger men pushed forward to get things and were told togo back by Mrs. Hogan so that women could come and get ablanket but they wouldn’t go away. Then some milk and a plateeach was given. After receiving something all were blank, onlythree said thank you – all were dazed. At the end when all wasfinished they bombarded her in the car begging. She said ‘Theonly thing I have left is my dress.’ So we put an empty carton thathad contained cereal out through the car window. So manypeople grabbed it, it was all torn. Then one woman picked up thepieces, held them together carefully and walked away.

28th Ikot Ebok clinic – just hundreds of patients. Saw 226 very quickly. Nearly all malnutrition. Crowd unruly and noisy – veryhard to work.


told it carried materials. So we sat on the floor for the 12 hourflight to Lisbon. We arrived about 4 pm. Fr. Doran met us and said ‘Get out of those clothes’. We were a little disappointedbecause we thought we looked rather nice in them. So then wechanged back to our habits and walked down the town.

Endnote:

September 1968

26th Letter from Fr. Mullen written Sep 3rd. Said he went down to Fr. Frawley August 25th and went into Ikot Ekpene. ‘Like a plaguestruck town – not a living being in sight – several corpses stillunburied. The only movable properties left in our house werebooks. Everything else looted. A shell had hit the roof of the houseand much water was getting in. I had been thinking of leavingUgoagbu and returning to Ikot Ekpene or Urua Akpan for the sake of the people but when I went there nobody in sight.Apparently all had fallen back towards Uyo with the armyadvance – the latter reached a point only 2 miles from Uyo – past Use Abat, Uyo Rd and Ibiono. No fathers or sisters to be seen. Now I think they were fallen back again and are 6–7 milesout of Ikot Ekpene. We went to Aba the last time and nearlyeveryone had gone. It was a really dreadful experience to stand at Aba at noon and not hear or see a living being. Can you imagineit? The Federals are only a few miles from Okpala where they can burst out on to the tar and also coming within shellingdistance of Owerri and Uli. (Where we flew out from). We’re like rats in a trap here in Iboland at the moment. Emekuku still functions tho’ many lorry loads of drugs went to Amaini. By the way we dug up the famous black trunk in Urua Akpan with chalices and ciboria. Disastrous! Frs. Frawley and Cronin are in their usual fine form and Sylvan us doing fine work at Nto Edino. I expect we’ll all be overrun in a few weeks time. I hopewe’re allowed to stay tho’. The Red Cross has not done anythingabout setting up in Urua Akpan when I was there.’

And that was the last news we heard!

U R U A A K P A N 1 9 6 8 39

July 1968

1st Monday – Sick and could not go to camp. Sr. Elizabeth went toIkot Umo Essien camp. Wrote a report about the camps in themorning and helped Sr. Eugene pack drugs. In the afternoon Fr.Umana came with a lorry and took away examintion couches,scales, trolleys, the medicine cupboard and the furniture of theVincentians house. Sr. Elizabeth and I went to say goodbye to Mrs.Hogan – really upset and also Chief Joseph to whom I gave alovely statue – not at all upset.

2nd WE ALL LEFT URUA AKPAN. Spent the morning tidying thetheatre. Paulinu Nwagu, Gerry Christopher Moran who usuallycomes when he wants something and the Fathers all saidgoodbye. As we left the compound I looked back and will neverforget Frs. Frawley and Cronin standing outside our front door looking at the retreating car. It was so sad. Drove to Okpuala. Fr. Doheny had suggested that we work there. The car brokedown. And I suggested he ask a sister who worked there but she suggested it was good if we go back to our old camp. Feeling sick. Arrived at Emekuku. Fr. Donal came. Very sick atnight and next three days. Sr. Brigidine sick at Okpala. Sr. Lorcavery good to me.

5th Srs. Eugene and Brigidine arrived at Ihiala.

6th Met Fr. Prendergast and we went to get plane in civvies. There was no aerodrome. The road had been widened and the ‘airport’ was a disused furniture factory. But the plane did not arrive or go that night.

7th Fr. Tony Byrne flew in and flew out with us with Mr. Mojekwu –Home Affairs – and several other people and we arrived at theisland of San Tome. There we had a marvellous meal and we werewondering if we could put some in our hand bags – in case. Thenwe noticed that the Minister of Home Affairs and his wife weredoing just that – so of course we followed suit. Then we boardedwhat seemed like a cargo plane. It had no seats and we were

B I A F R A N W A R D I A R Y38

urua akpan 1968 - medical missionaries of...

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