Skip to main content

FM
Former Member
Reputable Pulmonologist Dr. Moti Lall passes on

January 11, 2012 | By KNews | Filed Under News
Source - Kaieteur News

Dr. Moti Lall

Reputable Pulmonologist, Dr Moti Lall, who over the years served the health sector diligently, has died.

He was said to be suffering from a heart condition and was ailing of recent. He succumbed to his condition yesterday morning, four days shy of his 70th birthday.

Dr. Lall, who was raised on the East Coast of Demerara, was the eldest of five children born to Suraj and Betty Lall on January 14th, 1942.

His years as a health professional spanned about four decades, which saw him becoming renowned for his priceless contributions to the treatment and diagnosis of pulmonary diseases. He also became especially popular for his work in the area of addressing (TB) which he had considered a major threat to public health.

Over the years he remained one of the few health professionals that worked assiduously towards the reduction of TB locally. His dedication to the field also saw him being featured in this publication as a ‘Special Person’ last year February.

Just last year, too, he alluded to the need for more funding, and the training of health professionals as two crucial factors to aid the fight against TB. Dr. Lall has for many years been directing his services to the fight against this disease which he insisted was yet a serious threat to the health sector.

He had explained that with the occurrence of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) the scourge of the disease has intensified considerably.

“We have found that TB is a so-called by product of AIDS and what we have found also is that when most AIDS victims die, the cause of death is usually TB,” Dr Lall had explained.

It is for this very reason, that he had spoken of the urgent need for more attention and an increase in the budgetary allocation to help combat the disease. He had asserted that the disease is on the increase.

The Pulmonologist had emphasized also that although a lot of approaches to combat the disease have been engaged by the health sector such as the Direct Observation Therapy Strategy (DOTS) programme, there are still some challenges such as the failure of some patients to take their medication.

“When these patients do not use their drugs, which is provided at no cost to them, they develop a multiple drug resistance and this is the creeping monster that we have to be watching for very carefully. When these people refuse to take the drug, or if they don’t get it for some reason, the disease spreads and we have a major problem. It is a problem in Europe, it is a problem in far East Asia, and it is raising its ugly head in the Caribbean too.” This state of affairs, Dr Lall had pointed out could be seen as the primary reason for a decline in the success rate as it relates to the fight against the disease.

He had revealed that efforts in 2009 had realised a mere 64 percent success rate when in fact the aim was somewhere in the vicinity of 90 percent.

In addressing the problem, Dr Lall had highlighted the need to even screen pregnant women to ensure that if they have TB, every precaution be taken to ensure that they do not pass it on to their unborn children.

Up until the time of his death, Dr Lall had operated a clinic at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara, which catered to many who had confidence in his professional capability.

He leaves to mourn his wife Chitra and three children to whom sincere condolences are already being directed.

A message from the New Jersey Arya Samaj/Guyana Central Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission said that Dr Lall’s demise came as “a great shock and loss to many he had touched during his years.”

Former Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, in a statement last evening said that he was saddened by the death of Dr. Lall who he worked with for the last two decades and served together in the health sector during the past 15 years. He said that Dr. Lall, the recipient of a national award (Medal of Service) and former Parliamentarian, served the health sector with distinction, above and beyond the call of duty.

Dr Ramsammy recalled too that Dr. Lall worked tirelessly toward eradication of TB in Guyana and following the conversion of the Best Sanatorium in 1986 to the West Demerara Hospital, he continued to serve the public through several Chest Clinics nationwide.

Dr. Motilall at the time of his death was the President of the Guyana Chest Society, a society that has existed for almost 100 years in Guyana. He was also the Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority and was a active member of the PPP since in the early 1960s.

“Even though his death leaves us diminished and we will grieve, I believe that we should also celebrate the achievements of Dr. Moti Lall. His efforts stand tall as we examine how Guyana has been dealing with TB. The truth is TB would have decimated the population of Guyana. It is because of his efforts in the 1980s and 1990s that Guyana has been able to keep TB under control,” Dr Ramsammy stated.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Very sorry to hear of the passing of this caring and patriotic son of the soil. He was proud to acknowledge that he was born, raised and received his educational foundation in Buxton. As a fellow villager, he made me proud of his accomplishments and service to the nation. He died too young, but God knows best. May his dear soul rest in peace!
Sincere condolence to his grieving family and friends.
FM
I am sorry to learn of the passing of Dr.Moti Lal and wish to convey to his widow and family my sincerest condolences at this sad time.....

Dr. Moti Lall was a hero in Guyana'a struggle for free and fair elections.....he was a talented physician and a man of integrity.....

His relatives, comrades , many friends and patients will surely miss him......
FM
He displayed a quiet dignity and competence as he went about his professional and political work. Guyana lost one its most talented and dedicated sons. My condolences to the family.
FM
Dr. Moti Lall will be missed - President Ramotar – signs Book of Condolence

Georgetown, GINA, January 11, 2012
Source - GINA

President Donald Ramotar signs the book of condolence opened for the late Dr Moti Lall at the Ministry of Housing and Water

President Donald Ramotar joined Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali and staff of the Central Housing and Planning Authority this morning at the Ministry of Housing and Water to sign the book of condolence for former Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA), Dr. Moti Lall.

President Ramotar said that he knew Dr. Lall since in the 1960s and he has been a stalwart in the People’s Progressive Party. “He worked very hard in many areas…he got a lot of work done since his return from Canada and we have worked very closely… his passing will have a big impact specifically on the West Demerara where he had a lot of patients and also on our party, as he was looked up to as an example… he has left to mourn not only his family, but also thousands of party members and supporters who really appreciated and liked him a lot… personally I will miss him,” President Ramotar said.

Minister Ali said that Dr. Moti Lall will be missed tremendously for his insight, his immense contribution, dedication, commitment and strength of character to the housing sector.

Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali signs the book of condolence for Dr Moti Lall at the Ministry of Housing and Water

“He contributed significantly to the development of the housing sector during the 20 years he would have spent as Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority and also to the development of an advancement of policies that would have seen the housing sector not only functioning in an effective manner but, implemented new approaches to development and a lot of what has been happening in the sector over the last 20 years is testimony of the hard work and great effort he put into the sector,” Minister Ali said.

Dr. Moti Lall passed away on January 10, 2012 around 01:15 hrs, at his Republic Park, East Bank Demerara residence after a prolonged period of illness. He was 69 years of age.

Born on January 14, 1942, Lall was the eldest of his siblings, who all grew up in the village of Buxton, East Coast Demerara, and went on to pursue secondary schooling at the Queen’s College, after which he pursued a career in the field of medicine as he was awarded a scholarship to study medicine in Havana, Cuba.

A staff of the Central Housing and Planning Authority signs the book of condolence for Dr Moti Lall at the Ministry of Housing and Water

Dr. Lall then completed a post-graduate programme in the area of pulmonary care at Rostock University in Germany, and after a few years in Canada, he returned to Guyana in 1968 as a fully qualified pulmonologist or pulmonary disease specialist, proficient in the skill of diagnosing and treating all pulmonary conditions and disease and took up the post of Medial Superintendent at West Demerara Regional Hospital.

He was a former President of the Chest Society and was instrumental in the opening of the Chest Clinic in Orange Walk, Georgetown, and in recognition of his efforts to help reduce the scourge of Tubercolis, was awarded the Silver Medal by the Ministry of Health in 1983 and in 1998, the country’s third highest honour- Cacique Crown of Honour (CCH)- by the Government for his long and dedicated service in the field of medicine.

Dr. Moti Lall also served as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Sixth and Seventh Parliaments from November 24, 1992 to February 15, 2001 and again in 2005.

He is survived by his wife, Chitra and their two children.
FM
President delivers touching eulogy at funeral of late medical practitioner– calls for his life story to be popularised

Georgetown, GINA, January 15, 2012
Source - GINA

President Donald Ramotar delivering his eulogy at the funeral service for the late medical practitioner Dr Moti Lall.

President Donald Ramotar recalled some of his early encounters with the late renowned medical practitioner Dr. Moti Lall and spoke with high acclaim about the life and work of the man who he regarded as his close friend and Party comrade.

His sentiments were made at the late doctor’s East Bank Demerara residence where relatives and close friends in the medical field, politics and the Lions Club of Guyana of which he was a member, gathered to pay tribute.

“He never failed to remind me to have a (medical) check-up. He was that kind of person, benevolent, considerate… he had this easy-going way about him with all that he had seen and went through,” President Ramotar said.

Dr Moti Lall who died on January 9 at his residence, was a former People’s Progressive Party (PPP) Member of Parliament and spent most of his career in the field of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis control. He was also President of the Guyana Chest Society.

The former Commonwealth Observer and Chairman of the Central Housing and Planning Authority, was conferred the Cacique Crown of Honour in 1998.

President Ramotar in his eulogy described Dr. Moti Lall as an independent fighter who was faithful to his wife and family and who stood his ground to the principles of loyalty even in tested times.

The Head of State recalled that Dr. Moti Lall after returning to Guyana from studies abroad, found it difficult to find a job because of his political affiliation and while others who found themselves in that position waivered to political pressure, Moti Lall “stayed the course.”

“He was a member of the PPP when it was difficult to be a member of the PPP and being a member of the PPP was courting prison, jail and persecution,” President Ramotar said.

After remigration from Canada, Dr Moti Lall occupied the vacant position as a chest specialist at the West Demerara hospital.

President Donald Ramotar assists members of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in wrapping the party flag around the coffin of the late medical practitioner Dr Moti Lall.

He studied medicine in Cuba and while there, witnessed and participated in what was considered one of the most important political events in history, “the Cuban revolution.” He later furthered his studies at the German Democratic Republic specialising in medicine.

The role the late doctor played in the PPP was described by President Ramotar as “key” and as such he was shortlisted when the Party conceptualized a plan to train a cadre of technical and political elites to lead Guyana.

President Ramotar believes that the story of the late doctor should be popularized and called on the family members to set the precedent so that the nation’s youth can learn and emulate.
FM

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×