Tribute to a paragon of excellence, Dr Zuwaira Garkuwa

by Kabir Garkuwa

Our hearts grieve, eyes full of tears, but we cannot question the will of Allah. We all belong to him, and to him shall we return.

I have been compelled to write these few lines to honour a sister, mother, wife, counsellor, intellectual and philanthropist, whose noble companionship and biological ties have touched my life in many ways.

It has been a difficult moment for our family, people of Bauchi State and our country. Dr Zuwaira Garkuwa, a former commissioner in the Bauchi State Ministry of Health, consultant physician/associate professor of community medicine in the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, died in a ghastly motor accident on November 23, 2020. That day will never be forgotten as long as we still live on this planet. She died on her way to attend an official function, typical of her nature.

The accident occurred around Zaranda, a village few kilometres after Nabordo, on her journey to Bauchi. She was billed to join Dr Yusuf Jibreen, the Chief Medical Director, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi to explore collaborative ways of research-based engagement with officials of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

The deceased won’t be able to read tributes or listen to encomiums for them, but those still alive are expected to learn and live aright.

The death of Dr Garkuwa or Hassan as she was known, based on her marital status, is painful to her family, friends, students, colleagues and well-meaning people.

She was the 16th out of the 40 children of the legendary Alhaji Adamu Garkuwa of blessed memory and seventh out of the 13 children of Hajiya Hadiza Garkuwa (Dada).

Alhaji Garkuwa set a high standard of excellence for his children. The first rule is: Be the best in your class because the second position is rarely praised. The second rule is to read science or a professional course. Of all the courses, medicine was the dearest and fondest wish of our dad. He believed that medicine, more than any other thing, affected lives of common people on a daily basis. It was, in those days, the surest way to self-sufficiency, at least to a moderately balanced person.

Little wonder then that Dahiru Garkuwa remained the only medical doctor in Toro town until Zuwaira joined him as the second and arguably the first female doctor in the entire local government.

Trained by a highly principled and successful sister, Dr Habiba Lawal, Dr Zuwaira stood tall amongst her peers, unrivalled by colleagues, undimmed by friends, unsurpassed by family in more ways than one. This was the living precept carefully and patiently taught to us by our legendary father.

She was an embodiment of academic excellence and inspiration. She attended the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Staff School, where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate in 1986 and proceeded to Federal Government Girls’ College, Bauchi.

After that, she secured admission to read Medicine and Surgery in the University of Jos and graduated with distinction. She proceeded to the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, where she bagged a Fellowship in Public Health in 2011. She also obtained a postgraduate diploma in Management from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 2012. She also earned a certificate in Clinical Management of HIV from the University of Washington, United States.

Dr Zuwaira worked as a house officer in Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) from 2001-2002. After her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme in the JUTH, she rose to become a medical officer between 2003 and 2005. Consistent with her passion for her chosen career, she started a postgraduate programme in the same institution in 2006.

She worked as a registrar from 2006 to 2008 and senior registrar from 2008 to 2012 and became a consultant. She was appointed a lecturer 1 by the University of Jos in the Faculty of Medical Sciences from 2012 to 2015 and senior lecturer from 2015 to 2018. She became a JUTH honorary consultant from 2012 to 2018.

She was appointed commissioner for health in Bauchi State during the administration of Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar. She later joined the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University as the head of the Department of Community Medicine.

As commissioner for health, she carried out reforms that would continue to impact the lives of the people of Bauchi State.

After this assignment, she joined the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital as head of the Department of Community Medicine, on November 1, 2019. True to her professional disposition, she brought her experiences in discharging her duties until she left this planet.

She was creative intelligent and always determined to overcome challenges.

One would seldom find such a high achiever with humility and simplicity. Arrogance is often associated with people of means while simplicity is the lot of men or women of low status, but Dr Zuwaira was an exception to such social order. She was simple and humble to a fault. She participated in weddings or traditional events that appeared beneath her status. She would eat with the common folk, sleep in any available room in the family house and visit family members on a regular basis.

She loved her family and her family loved her. This explains the pain visible in the family over her demise.

Regardless of her tight schedule, she made it a duty to participate in all family engagements, except where it was simply not possible. She attended to the sick, assisted the less endowed members of the family and led in all festivities.

She was very generous and peaceful. She spent money and time on friends, loved ones, acquaintances, distant relatives, neighbours, strangers and others. Unfortunately, we did not know she was completing her task on earth.

For many years, she led the Plateau State medical team on Hajj.

Despite her social status, she had a great sense of humour, through which she lifted souls and inspired struggling persons. She was easily identifiable in a crowd because of her sense of humour. Never would you be tired, bored or uncomfortable in her presence. She electrified conversations, enlivened gatherings of people and brightened the mood of all the spaces she traversed. Even in mourning moods, she would cheer people up.

Alas! We have lost someone very dear. Oh Allah, forgive her and raise her degree among those who are rightly guided.

Our prayer is that she would rest and live securely among gardens and rivers, secure at the seat of honour in the presence of the Most High, insha Allah.

We will forever remember you until we join you.