Strathmore MBA Student Volunteers to Fight Ebola

Dr. Hiram Muriuki, an MBA student in Strathmore Business School, has volunteered to go to West Africa to help contain the Ebola epidemic. Service to one's neighbour and society is one of the values Strathmore University tries to instill on its students. Dr. Muriuki is certainly giving himself without counting the cost.

As of 2014, the world continues to experience the most widespread epidemic of Ebola virus disease. The initial outbreak which began in Guinea in the year 2013 has taken the world by storm. The mortality rate across different countries has been on the rise and half of the medical personnel who have been exposed to the virus have succumbed.

It is in this context that Dr. Hiram Muriuki, an MBA student at Strathmore Business School and a Medical Center Manager in one of Nairobi's medical facilities, decided to volunteer his services to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as a Medical Doctor, in Liberia. As a volunteer, Hiram is currently undergoing a three week World Health Organization (WHO) training that is facilitated by the U.S. military, before he and others join the frontlines in the fight against the disease. The training is taking place in Monrovia, capital of Liberia, which has been the worst hit by the disease.

Dr. Hiram Muriuki, MBA student in Strathmore Business School

While speaking to Hiram, he disclosed that his motivation to fight the disease is borne out of his desire to contain its spread. "Who else will go if I don't go? It is a crisis and it will eventually spread if no one goes to try and contain it at its source," he said. While admitting that there are many fears that come with his decision, Hiram is confident that IOM, which has many facilities to contain, admit and monitor the epidemic, will give him the necessary skills he needs to keep himself safe as well as assist the affected.

With his four years of experience in the medical field, Hiram is certain that his sacrifice will count in saving the lives of many other people. Among other qualifications, he was accepted as a volunteer by IOM on the basis of him being medically fit and a licensed practitioner.

In his closing remarks, Hiram mentioned the need for further sensitization of the disease in Kenya. "Kenya is lucky to be off the radar, but we must do all we can to prepare for it. I would have wanted to stay in my country to help in the sensitization, but I would rather go and 'kill' Ebola at its root. It's more urgent for me to go to Liberia," he said.

Hiram noted with appreciation the support from fellow classmates and SBS staff in his endeavor as outstanding and he is hoping to make use of the leadership skills acquired from the MBA program.

Originally published on the Strathmore University Website