Ghana loses an ‘exceptional’ doctor, David Abdulai

A well-known Ghanaian medical philanthropist Dr David Abdulai, has passed on after battling stage-4 thyroid cancer.

He died on Sunday at the Tamale Teaching Hospital at age 65.

Dr Abdulai, who left behind a wife and three children, was operating a private clinic where he provided medical care for the poor and mentally ill at no cost.

"Services in this clinic are aimed primarily at the poor and destitute. Purely for love of God and neighbour and are absolutely free. We depend unconditionally on divine providence," says a signage at his Shekhina Clinic in the Northern region.

President John Mahama had to step in to cover his medical cost at the Ghana Sweden Medical Centre and the 37 Military Hospital when it became evident that his family could not bear his medical bills.

At a point his friends had to launch an online ‘appeal for funds’ known as ‘Go fund me’ to raise money for his upkeep and medical treatment.

“Choggu, as he was affectionately called, remained positive and will give out money to a relative even on his sick bed, I learnt,” a respected nurse and blogger Kobby Blay wrote about the deceased whose life has always been about giving.

He manned the Shekhina Clinic at Gurugu since 1989 with another health centre at Wamale, both in the Northern region.

He has saved the lives of patients with hernia, persons living with HIV, the mentally ill and the destitute.