Nigeria

ADDRESS P.O. Box 585
Makurdi
Benue State
Nigeria
ESTABLISHED 1972
LANGUAGE Tiv
CONTACT Sr. Suzanne Marshall
PHONE N/A
EMAIL olmsistersnigeria@hotmail.com
MEMBERS Sr. Rosemarie Donovan
Sr. Rosemary Williamson
Sr. Mary Deighan
Sr. Suzanne Marshall
HIGHLIGHTSIn the early seventies, near the time of the civil war’s ending in Nigeria, the then Bishop of Makurdi, Donal Murray was endeavouring to set up medical infrastructure for his area. In response to his appeal, Sr. Mona Kelly and Sr. Mary Deighan together with volunteers from Canada began medical work in the villages of Ihugh and Vandeikya in what is now Benue State. As the years past and other Sisters joined them, the apostolate broadened to pastoral work, secondary school education ,education of the deaf and care of other physically challenged adults and children. And they were assisted all along the way by devoted lay people from various countries in UK as well as from Canada. When the HIV/AIDS pandemic hit the area with such ferocity, much of the Sisters’ attention turned to this ministry. Presently the Sisters are engaged in this work as well as pastoral care, care for the handicapped and youth work in justice and peace groups and in educational video.

MINISTRIES OFFERED

Pastoral Care, primary health care, care for physically challenged, youth support

SUPPORT NEEDS

Pastoral Care
for support of AIDS orphans; provision of ARV drugs for persons living with HIV/AIDS; subsidies for salaries of Pastoral Care workers

Primary Health Care
for subsidies for Primary Health Care workers; funding for seminars for Home Based Care workers (volunteers); feeding and transport for these workers

Care of Physically Challenge
for provision of basic furnishings and equipment for workshops for the disabled for the development of skills in carpentry, shoe-making and repair, welding especially in the making of wheelchairs and prosthesis

Youth Work
funding for the purchase of teaching materials for transportation and workshop fees outside the local area and an adequate sound system for the showing of videos to outdoor audiences

St. Francis School for Deaf and Blind
subsidies for non-teaching staff salaries.