Harriet Jiraba 1983 – 2010
The Harriet Memorial Fund is set up in honour of Harriet Jiraba who died tragically in a road accident in Northern Uganda in October 2010, along with her father and brother.
Harriet was born at the brink of the second Sudanese civil war and so her early years were impacted by the growing intensity of the war around Yei. Eventually when she was about 10 years old, her mother took Harriet to greater safety to live in Uganda. This involved a 14 day trek through the jungle of DRC. Her mother worked hard to raise a garden in order to provide for Harriet and her two brothers. Despite many challenges she was grateful for various scholarships which enabled her to pursue her education up to ‘O’ levels and from there she proceeded to train as a nurse in Kulumva Hospital Training School in Arua, Uganda.
In 2005 she moved back to South Sudan to fulfil her desire to use her medical training to provide health services in South Sudan. She worked with several different agencies in many different areas around the country.
In 2008 she married James Kepo, Principal of Yei Teacher Training College and took a position as the senior nurse in charge at a Church clinic in Yei, even as she established a family home in the principal’s house in the college. She was gifted in hospitality and the constant flow of guests were all warmly welcomed.
Gloria Peace was born in January 2009 bringing great joy to James and Harriet. Later that year, Harriet was able to study for a Diploma at the Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Liverpool, UK. On her return to Yei, she took a position as a Community Based Organisations Coordinator with PSI ( Population Services International) and was soon promoted to become the Field Coordinator in the area of diarrhoea, pneumonia and malaria control.
Wherever she was working, Harriet was highly regarded by her colleagues for her commitment, compassion and professionalism. She went far beyond her duties in offering care to students in the college, even in the middle of the night - and to others in the community.
In October 2010, she was on a bus journey with her brother, accompanying their father for medical treatment in Uganda when the tragic accident occurred. She is mourned, not just by her close family, but everyone who knew her. The funeral was attended by representatives from the Government, church, local businesses and other community leaders.
The Executive Director of Across launched the Harriet Memorial Fund in December 2010, to honour the memory of this young woman who had such a passion to see more South Sudanese girls able to complete their education and gain skills in Health or Education to serve their country.
is set up in honour of Harriet Jiraba who died tragically in a road accident in Northern Uganda in October 2010, along with her father and brother. Harriet was an outstanding student who qualified as a nurse in Uganda and then returned to South Sudan where she worked in Primary and Community Health as a nurse with verious agencies.