Dr Moti Lall“There is a need for camaraderie if there is to be progression in any area of our life. If we don’t work as a team we can’t be successful in our endeavours…”By Sharmain CornetteIt may not be the most alluring of specialist fields for a medical practitioner today, but for Dr Moti Lall, addressing pulmonary (lung) conditions and diseases has been his area of expertise for just shy of four decades.In fact that expertise can be considered a relatively scarce commodity in these parts, as most physicians with such valued knowledge opt to render their much needed services overseas in exchange for far more lucrative benefits than can be had here. But he was driven with so much determination to serve the land of his birth, that Dr Lall would not allow himself to be lured away into so-called greener pastures,
Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping, even though at one time his services were surprisingly being rejected.You see,
NFL Cheap Jerseys, it was from a very young age that he had envisaged serving his country in the medical field, an endeavour that escaped his grasp for the first five years after attaining the requisite training. However, today he remains dedicated to his calling, claiming that “it is my desire to continue to give my bit to my country.”Though of East Indian ancestry, Dr Lall did not have what one would describe as the typical East Indian upbringing. In fact many are surprised to hear the doctor declare himself “a Buxtonian.” Yes, this dedicated pulmonologist grew up in Buxton on the East Coast of Demerara, a village known to be the home of predominantly Afro Guyanese.The village was just a few years ago regarded as a haven for criminal elements. It had even served as something of a battle zone, as lawmen attempted to root out those who had developed notorious reputations and took refuge in many of the community’s secreted settings.But that was not the Buxton that Dr Moti Lall remembers. He recalls growing up with boyhood friends the likes of Sydney King, now known as Eusi Kwayana, political activist. In fact, the backdam area of Middle Walk was home to the young Moti, his five siblings and his parents, Suraj and Betty Lall.Born on the 14th day of January 1942, Moti was the eldest of his siblings and recounted during an interview with this newspaper that he attended Buxton Private School under the tutelage of Stanley A. Gaskin. According to him, Buxton at that time was an area that people along the East Coast of Demerara cherished, and there was abundant evidence of camaraderie existing between people of African and Indan descent.“Because of this I had an excellent friendship with Afro Guyanese; they were my best friends. I was always in the midst when they had African activities…I was always part and parcel of everything,” Dr Moti Lall fondly reflected.Having completed his primary education, Moti went on to Queen’s College to complete his secondary education. His Principal was the distinguished Vivian Joseph Sanger-Davies, an Englishman, who would be the first to encourage the young Moti to pursue a career in the field of medicine. After completing seven years of sound secondary education he was awarded a scholarship to study medicine in Havana, Cuba.“Aside from my Principal, it was Joshua Ramsammy (now deceased), who taught me Zoology, that encouraged me to do medicine, and I have no regrets because it was what I wanted to do.”But it was in the fourth year of his studies that the young Moti would make what would be the biggest decision of his life – request a transfer to complete his studies at another university.His request was granted and he was able to complete his medical programme at the Rostock University in Germany. He would go on to complete a post-graduate programme in the area of pulmonary care at the same University, at the beckoning of the late Dr Cheddi Jagan, upon whose recommendation he was granted a post-graduate scholarship.His studies in Germany saw him gaining an in-depth understanding of tuberculosis, commonly referred to as TB. This disease, he would learn, is manifested as an attack on the lungs, but also has the potential of affecting the central nervous system, the lymphatic system, the circulatory system, bones, joints and even the skin.He would return to Guyana in 1968 as a fully qualified Pulmonologist or Pulmonary Disease Specialist, thus was proficient in the skill of diagnosing and treating all pulmonary conditions and diseases. With his eyes set on making a difference in the local public health sector, the vibrant young doctor availed himself, but to his disappointment, the political tension of the day would see him being rejected in every area he sought to inject his newly acquired skills. Disillusioned by the unanticipated turn of events, the young doctor would answer the calls of relatives to head to Winnipeg, Canada, where he was immediately offered