Dr Moti Lall, a stalwart of the PPP and a former Member of Parliament died on Monday night of a suspected heart attack at his Republic Park, East Bank Demerara home surrounded by his family.
He would have turned 70 on January 14.
Speaking to Stabroek News, one of Dr Lall’s daughters Renuka Mahadeo said that her father died in his sleep. Dr. Lall is survived by his wife Chitrakha Lall, daughters Aruna Lall and Renuka Mahadeo, and son Moti Pravindra Lall.
The daughter with whom this newspaper spoke said that while the family is planning to have the funeral on Sunday, it is still tentative because they are awaiting the arrival of his son who lives in the United Arab Emirates.
Stabroek News understands that the doctor last worked at his Vreed-en-Hoop practice on December 30, 2011. He had had heart bypass surgery 15 years ago.
Dr Lall had served for a long time with the Guyana Chest Clinic and had been hailed for his work in relation to tuberculosis control. He entered Parliament as a PPP/C MP following the 1992 General Elections and was a representative for Region Three.
Meanwhile friends, colleagues and PPP/C executives yesterday shared indelible moments spent with the doctor while emphasizing the loss to the medical fraternity.
Programme Manager of the Tuberculosis Programme Dr Jeetendra Mohanlall expressed sadness at Lall’s demise saying “Dr Moti Lall’s death will be felt especially in this department. He worked in the TB programme for over thirty years and could have told you the history of the TB programme since he was there from the beginning until 2000 when he left but was always there to give technical support”.
According to Dr Mohanlall, Dr Motilall was always approachable and willing to give advice however he could also be constructively critical because he was never afraid to say what he felt. He was the president of the chest society and that was the only Non Governmental Organization that gave support to the TB programme and he will be dearly missed especially for his fight in the medical fraternity to make TB extinct in Guyana, Dr Mohanlall said.
Longtime friend of the pulmonologist, Minister of Health Dr. Bheri Ramsaran, said “I was a bit shocked hearing of his death although I knew he had some health issues. I have known him for many years in the field of medicine, as a party member and a friend. He was always the mentor… a solid leader who could relate to practically persons of every status quo. It is his quiet smile that I remember as he gave advice to pacify certain situations both in the party and otherwise.”
Former minister of health Dr Leslie Ramsammy, also released a statement saying “Today I lost a friend and a colleague. I have known Dr Moti Lall for decades and we worked together for the last two decades. But we served in the public health sector together for the last 15 years. I am profoundly saddened by the death of my comrade and I believe Guyana has lost a patriot and a dedicated son. The Tuberculosis Program and the Ministry of Health have become diminished by the death of this dedicated son.”
Dr Ramsammy noted that Dr Lall was first registered by the Medical Board as a Medical Practitioner in the early 1970’s, after completing his Medical Degree at the University of Rostock, the German Democratic Republic in 1968. He obtained a diploma in Pulmonology and TB in 1970 at the same University and on returning to Guyana started his long and continuous service in the field of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis control.
Dr Ramsammy said that he was appointed Principal TB officer in 1982, and held that Position until 1997, when he retired. He was then retained as a consultant with the Ministry of Health to oversee the TB programme, a position he held until 1999 when he was appointed as Advisor on Communicable Diseases.
Dr Lall worked tirelessly, Dr Ramsammy said, toward the eradication of TB in Guyana and following the conversion of the Best Sanatorium in 1986 to the West Demerara Hospital, continued to serve the public through several Chest Clinics across the country. Dr. Moti Lall 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, Ramsammy noted.
“Even though his death leaves us diminished and we will grieve, I also 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.”
He expressed condolences to Dr Lall’s wife and his three children.
And the PPP last night said:”The life of Dr. Moti Lall was fulfilling and purposeful as a servant of our people, especially through his medical practice.
“Throughout his life he demonstrated unwavering commitment to the development of Guyana and displayed his love for his country through his struggle for democracy and freedom, the poor and the disenfranchised.
“For us he made a valuable contribution to the PPP/C and his country and we must therefore find comfort in knowing that his sacrifices and kind deeds have contributed immensely in the creation of a better life for all our people.
“The PPP/C joins his wife, children other relatives and friends in mourning the loss of Dr. Moti Lall.”(Johann Earle and Marcelle Thomas)
