(Credit: Jack Pease Photography)

Over 40,000 people across the UK have died with the Coronavirus, including 166 NHS staff and other healthcare workers. Of those, 100 (60%) came from BAME backgrounds, while 39 (23%) were white and 27 (16%) were of unknown ethnic origin. Among those who lost their life are 30 Muslims. The Muslim News has been tracking the deaths of Muslim healthcare workers during the pandemic. Most were working on the frontline and caring for patients, while some were retired but returned to work.

May 27 | Dr Abdorreza ‘Abdy’ Sedghi, (Iranian descent), GP, Lister Hospital, Stevenage. Nick Carver, Chief Executive of East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, said, “Abdy was an Iranian GP who came to the UK to pursue a career in general practice. He joined the Central Herts GP Training Scheme in August 2019 and was based at Lister Hospital in Stevenage. Abdy made a big impact with his charisma and personality. He was devoted to his patients, taking the ime to understand their problems and worries. As one team we offer our very sincere condolences to his family and friends and mourn the loss of a greatly valued colleague. We are providing support to our colleagues at this difficult time.”

May 18 | Dr Abdel Wahab Babiker, 70, Consultant, Scarborough Hospital. Dr Ed Smith, Director of Acute, Emergency and Elderly Medicine for Scarborough Hospital, said, “Dr Babiker was an extremely energetic, hard-working, approachable and dedicated doctor. He had a wealth of experience that he brought to bear in caring for our patients. He was particularly notable for his ‘can-do’ attitude and supportive nature and was well-liked by patients and staff alike. He will be sorely missed.”

May 10 | Karamat Ullah Mirza, 84, GP, Old Road Medical Practice, Essex. Estelle Mirza said her husband loved his job, staff and patients and “wouldn’t have wanted to live while not working. People say to me when he was born his mould was broken; he was not an average doctor. He was extraordinary,” she said. Dr Ed Garratt, Chief Executive of the Ipswich East Suffolk, West Suffolk and North East Essex clinical commissioning groups, said, “We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dr Mirza, a respected and much-loved GP who had served the patients in his local community for more than four decades.”

Compiled by Nadine Osman