Condolence messages continue to pour in for well known Bulawayo family doctor and physician, Dr Cherifa Sururu, who succumbed to Covid-19 at Mater Dei Hospital on Wednesday night, as his death signifies that health workers are also vulnerable to the pandemic.
Dr Sururu, operated several surgeries across Bulawayo and was one of the pioneers in Zimbabwe to major in family medicine.
He studied at the University of Zimbabwe and made his name in Bulawayo as a General Practitioner and then specialised in Family Medicine at Stellenbosch University Capetown in South Africa where he did his masters.
As news of Dr Sururu’s passing spread both in online and offline spheres, people said his death was a blow to most in the city.
Bulawayo Mayor, Councillor Solomon Mguni, told CITE that Dr Sururu’s death was devastating as he was a medical practitioner who treated his patients with love.
“He was so much dedicated to his craft and was a professional, which is why people called him their family doctor. Dr Sururu’s death is a sign that the Covid-19 pandemic knows no boundaries and cuts across various lines, socially, tribally, professionally. I urge people to continue safeguarding themselves against the virus,” he said.
The mayor noted the way health workers were succumbing to Covid-19, showed they were also vulnerable, which necessitated a need for strengthened preventative measures among people.
“Health workers are on the frontline and we know people are worried as to who will then tend to them if their last line of defence is also succumbing. We must carry on with strength, Covid-19 is scary but we encourage our health workers to continue holding the fort, they have been serving with dignity and we appreciate them for that. People must also continue taking preventative measures,” said Clr Mguni.
Acting Chief Executive Officer at Mpilo Central Hospital, Professor Solwayo Ngwenya, said Dr Sururu’s death was saddening to both patients and professionals in the medical field.
“Everyone is saddened by Dr Sururu’s death, as he was a nice, jovial and very hardworking man. He will be sorely missed by everyone including us doctors in the medical field and patients. This is such a big loss for a young man,” he said.
Prof Ngwenya said Dr Sururu was ‘extremely talented’ in opening up clinics and surgeries to help a lot of people.
“It will be very difficult to fill his void in Bulawayo. This is a huge loss, may his soul rest in peace,” said the doctor.
Some staffers at QV pharmacy in the city centre, said they were “so heartbroken to hear Dr Sururu’s death from Covid-19 as they knew him very well.”
