Dr Hadi Abdullah, brain surgeon living his dreams
As we grow, we all come up with things we want to do in future. For some, it becomes wishful thinking while others keep pushing until it becomes a reality.
Even as a boy growing up in a Zongo community where blue-collar careers are not the typical aspiration of his contemporaries, young Hadi had always aspired to become a medical doctor.
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A passion for football on the dusty pitches at Nungua Zongo did not take his eyes off the ball, as he took all his science subjects seriously from the primary level to the tertiary level in pursuit of a dream profession.
Many years on, this childhood dream has come true.
Dr Hadi Mohammed Abdullah
Today, Hadi is an accomplished medical doctor and a specialist Neurosurgeon who corrects very delicate disorders — diagnosis and treatment of patients with injury or disorders of the brain, spinal cord, and spinal column and peripheral nerves within all parts of the body.
He is Dr Hadi Mohammed Abdullah, a specialist surgeon, and physician at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (Neurosurgery Unit) in Accra.
As the world marked July 1 as the National Doctors Day, The Mirror celebrates Dr Abdullah and other doctors around the world for working around the clock daily to save lives.
Doctors Day is celebrated to thank the doctors and physicians for their dedicated service.
Dr Abdullah at the theatre
The first celebration was held on July 1, 1991, to offer an opportunity to express gratitude to doctors for the round-the-clock service they offer.
Dr Abdullah’s achievement
Recently when new fellows were inducted into the West African College of Surgeons, he won the prestigious 2019 MT Shokunbi Prize in Neurosurgery at a graduation ceremony held in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
The award is named after one Professor Matthew Temitayo Shokunbi, a Nigerian Consultant Neurosurgeon and Professor of Anatomy at the University College Hospital who studied medicine at the University of Ibadan between 1973 and 1978.
Dr Abdullah during his student days
Professor Shokunbi also had distinctions in Pathology, Paediatrics, Obstetrics, and Gynaecology; obtained MSC in Specialist Certificate in Neurosurgery from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Canada between 1981 and 1986.
Organised by the West African College of Surgeons, the award was aimed at recognising the contribution of young surgeons in the sub-region.
Dr Abdullah was the only Ghanaian who graduated in Neurosurgery, with other Ghanaian graduating fellows in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ear, Nose, and Throat, among others, at a Nigerian-dominated ceremony.
Dr Abdullah and his family
As the only graduating fellow who won a prize in Neurosurgery, he surprisingly had the best dissertation in Neurosurgery which he passed at the first attempt.
The event, graced by the Sultan of Sokoto, highlighted the 60th-anniversary celebration of the prestigious regional college which has trained several surgeons for West Africa.
Educational background
Dr Abdullah had his primary education at the Nungua ‘AMA 4’ Junior High School from 1989 to 1992.
Dr Abdullah in his scrubs
Having passed the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) successfully, he gained admission to the Nungua Senior High School where he pursued a programme in the sciences.
In 1997, he gained admission to the University of Ghana Medical School at Legon.
He completed in 2001 and graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Medical Sciences (BSC. Med.Sc.).
He further went to the Ghana Medical School at Korle Bu to complete the medical school in medicine and surgery in 2005.
Dr Abdullah said in 2009 he decided to enrol at the University of Ghana Law Faculty to study Law in addition to medicine.
“Unfortunately, I deferred after the first semester due to my tight schedule,” he explained.
Young Abdullah (second left) and some of his siblings
He has since been very busy treating diseases and conditions affecting the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spine and spinal cord and the peripheral nerves.
Job challenges
Dr Abdullah admitted that he had passion in what he did as a neurosurgeon.
He explained that “inadequate anaesthetists, theatre and intensive care space hamper my desire to save the lives of people suffering from brain and spinal diseases/disorders and have been my biggest challenges on the job.”
Besides, he said long working periods ended up keeping him away from his family and people in the Zongo community where he grew up.
Growing up
Dr Abdullah described himself as a typical Zongo boy born to the late Alhaji Abdullah S. Sesay and Hajia Aisha Issakain in a polygamous home at Nungua Zongo, Accra.
His parents are from Navrongo, Wulugu, and Bawku, respectively.
He is the 10th of 12 siblings.
He lost his father in 1987 when he was barely four years old but that did not stop him from pursuing his dreams.
“And like many other Zongo children, I played football and thought of becoming a professional footballer. However, the desire to pursue medicine was greater. Therefore, I chose that path to save lives,” he stated.
Despite the fact that young Abdullah had the passion to spend more time with his books, he still stole time out with his area boys to hunt for baera (mice and rats) in the bush.
Dr Abdullah receiving his certificate from Prof Serigne M. Gueye, the President of the West African College of Surgeons
For him, it was some of the Zongo escapades that every young boy at that time enjoyed embarking on.
However, he was quick to add that it was important for the youth in Zongo to take their education seriously to break higher grounds.
“They must know that I got to where I am today because of the focus and commitment to education. I never allowed poverty to distract me from studying.
“Our abilities to memorise the Quran is a sign of the capabilities of our brains and that must motivate us to seek knowledge even amid poverty.
“Read and rid yourself out of poverty for education is a leveller," he said.
Dr Abdullah is married to Suad Sofo-Yarabi who is also from Bawku and they have two children.
Dr Abdullah and wife, Suad
When asked how they met, he disclosed that “I first met her at La but got attracted to her when I first watched her on TV during the Top Model pageant of which she was part.
“It was love at first sight,” he laughed heartily.
Precaution
Touching on some of the things to do to avoid brain-related diseases or disorders, he said it was important to be wary of head injuries and excessive radiation to the head and neck region.
“Take a lot of food with anti-oxidants which boost your immune system to enable your body to eliminate viruses.
“Some viruses have been implicated in brain tumours. Take enough rest and sleep enough. It is also good to avoid smoking cigarettes,” he advised and added:
“Avoid or protect yourself from pesticides, herbicides, lead, plastics, fertiliser and petroleum products.
“Those working in these industries need protection.”