Dr Abdulai laid to rest
Dr David Abdulai (affectionately called "Dr Choggu") was laid to rest at his private hospital at Gurugu, a suburb in the Sagnarigu District in the Northern Region last Monday.
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He was buried at the Shekhinah Clinic, a private health facility he founded some 25 years ago in the Northern Region.
Dr Abdulai, who was a philanthropist, served humanity with humility, particularly the destitute, the mentally ill, the disabled and the poor in the Northern Region and beyond.
Hundreds of mourners from all walks of life whose lives have been touched by the late medical doctor could not hold back their tears when the casket draped in the national flag arrived on the hospital premises for burial. It was carried by Military pallbearers. He was subsequently given a 21-gun salute for his dedicated and selfless service to God and country.
The Northern Region Minister, Abdallah Abubakar, was also present at the solemn ceremony.
Request
According to the family, Dr Abdulai had requested that he should be buried without a coffin and also in the manner in which the destitute and the mentally ill he took care of were buried without any fanfare, to depict the life of the destitute whom he lived to serve. He had also demanded that his remains be interred within 24 hours.
‘Dr Choggu’ had also requested he should not be mourned because he believed that he had lived a fulfilled and worthy life.
“I believe I have lived a worthy life and death is no threat to me. I beg all, my death should be celebrated, not mourned. I’m thankful for what God has used me to do and I’m ready when He calls,” Dr David Abdulai is quoted to have said in his last words.
These wishes were duly honoured by family members.
Service
Dr Abdulai would have turned 64 on Friday, October 9, 2016. He offered immense service to humanity in the country. Apart from the Shekhinah Hospital at Gurugu, he also established another hospital at Wamale to cater for the health needs of the destitute in the Eastern part of the Northern Region.
He offered free medical and surgical services to patients who visited the facilities.
The late philanthropist also operated a system dubbed ‘Meals on wheels’, where he offered free hot daily meals to the destitute, prisoners and the mentally challenged within the Tamale metropolis.
In a tribute read on behalf of the Catholic Parish at the burial mass held at the Ola Cathedral in Tamale where he fellowshipped, Dr Abdulai was described as a “seed that died, buried and germinated to feed the vulnerable”.
Awards
Dr Abdulai received several national and international awards in recognition of his hard work and humanitarian services to the public. It includes the Martin Luther King Noble Peace Award from the United States of America.
Background
Dr Abdulai fell ill in May this year. He was subsequently airlifted to the 37 Military hospital by the government for further treatment. He, however, passed away last Sunday at the Tamale Teaching Hospital where he asked to be brought when his situation deteriorated, according to family sources. He is survived by a wife and children.