Tributes Paid to British-Iraqi Doctor After He Dies of COVID-19

Locals of Ramsbottom in the Greater Manchester area have paid tributes to Dr Saad Al-Dubbaisi, a “much-loved” and “compassionate” local GP who died of COVID-19 after being ill for five weeks. His daughter Zainab, also a doctor, thanked all the NHS staff who had cared for him over his illness.

“We are extremely grateful to all the NHS staff who looked after him during his battle with Covid-19.”

Dr Saad Al-Dubbaisi, who was 59 when he died in hospital last Sunday, had graduated from the University of Baghdad in 1983. Like many other Iraqis he left the country due to the rule of Saddam Hussein. Alongside his daughters Zainab and Halah, who also became doctors, and his wife, he settled in Ramsbottom where he has been serving the community and the wider Bury area for 20 years, caring many generations of the same families and becoming part of their lives in the process.

His daughter Zainab described him as a loving and kind husband and father and said that he would always be in their hearts, thanking the NHS staff who cared for him for their efforts. Dr Jeff Schryer, a GP and chairman of NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group, similarly described Dr Al-Dubbaisi as “much-loved, compassionate and experienced”.

Many onlookers clapped for the doctor during his final journey

Following his funeral, a precession of NHS vehicles carried the doctor on his final journey to the cemetery. Onlookers and mourners gathered at the side of the streets clapping for the doctor as the hearse carrying him slowly passed through the town. Tributes were also offered on the Facebook post showing the precession.

“He achieved a lot but was so proud that his daughters became doctors,” said Ezzet Alkaptan, a childhood friend of the doctor.