Mohamed Yousouf Bacchus

Dr. Bacchus who operated his private clinic in Obstetrics and Gynecology at 225 New Market Street, Cummingsberg, Georgetown, at the time of his death was also serving on the medical staff of the Woodlands Hospital, Carmichael Street.

News of Dr. Bacchus’s death yesterday sent family members, the medical fraternity and all those whose lives he had touched in a very personal way, over the years, into deep mourning.

When the Guyana Chronicle visited his New Market Street clinic yesterday, there was an air of sadness, with a steady flow of persons coming into the clinic – not only to enquire and otherwise offer their condolences, but also those who were his patients and had come to honour clinic appointments. Many, shocked at the news of his death, slumped onto chairs, where they remained riveted and speechless, trying to come to terms with what they had just heard. Others cried openly, repeatedly recounting the remarkable ways in which he had touched many people’s lives.

Mr. Michael Khan, Chief Executive Officer of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation expressed deep shock and sadness at the passing of Dr. Bacchus. He said that the death of a man of Dr. Bacchus’ caliber, and his contribution to the health sector, will leave a deep void in the medical fraternity at this time. “His passing is most untimely,” he said, adding that it is hoped that in time, a replacement can be found.

An elderly relative of the dead doctor, Mr. Edward Bacchus who was at the Obstetrician’s clinic when this newspaper visited, said they were informed by Dr. Bacchus’ doctors at the Woodlands Hospital that he died of a heart attack. He recalled that Dr. Bacchus began complaining of a stomach pain late last week. On Monday night he had to be rushed to the Woodlands Hospital where he was admitted.

The staff at the clinic added that on Wednesday afternoon when they visited, he informed them that he was feeling better; hence they were utterly shocked on learning that he had died yesterday morning.

The elderly relative – Edward Bacchus and the staff remembered Dr. M.Y. Bacchus as a genuine person – dedicated to his job and very committed to his patients.

“At any hour of the night or day, he was called upon; he would always come out to look after his patients – regardless of the weather or situation. Likewise, when a patient died, he grieved for that patient,” the elder Bacchus recalled.

Edward recounted that Dr Bacchus, a ‘staunch Muslim’ believed in service to humanity, and dedicated his life to helping the poor and needy. For several years he ran an outpatient clinic at the Peter’s Hall Masjid, he said, offering free medical care and distributing drugs. He was also the Medical Officer for the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana. “He would help anybody,” Edward said with conviction.

And patients at the clinic, and others at the compound of the Georgetown Public Hospital recalled that Dr. Bacchus, even though a strict and straightforward ‘no-nonsense’ kind of person, he never turned a patient away.

“Even if they came to his private clinic and did not have sufficient money, he always tried to work out something for them. That was the nature of the man, they said, adding that he will be greatly missed by the people of Guyana. At his clinic he had come to be familiarly referred to by his staff and others who knew him well, as ‘dad’.

Dr. Bacchus served Guyana for several years – first at the Georgetown Public Hospital; at Suddie; then at the Woodlands Hospital, where he served to the time of his death.

In 1965 he graduated from the University of the West Indies with a MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Science). In 1970 he was accredited the MRCOG – University of London’s Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology. And FRGOG in 1974. In 1975, following a period of residency, he was accredited by the Family Planning Association of India with Advanced Care in Medical Surgical Techniques

In 1977 he was elected a Member of the Society with responsibilities for Parenting Research, Advocacy, Clinical applications among others, by the World Association of Planned Parenthood Partners.

In 1985 he did his Residency attachment at the Mount Sinai Medical Centre in Miami Beach, Florida.

In 1989 Dr Bacchus was accredited a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (London). In 2002 he was accredited Fellow of the International College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

In Guyana, he also had responsibility for training medical students at the University of Guyana, among other assignments, and had a very close association with the Pharmacy Association of Guyana.