Obituary: Dr Gatkuoth Khatir Lamba Takh
South Sudan has lost another young medical doctor with a future in front of him, Dr Gatkuoth Khatir Lamba Takh, who died of a cardiac arrest on 6 November 2022 in the South Sudanese capital, Juba.
Since November 2017, Dr Gatkuoth has worked as a medical doctor with Children Aid South Sudan (CASS) at the Rubkona PHCC in Unity State. A graduate of Upper Nile University with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree in 2008, Dr Gatkuoth worked as a medical officer at the Bentiu State Hospital in Unity State from January 2011 to February 2014. He also worked as a medic with the White Nile Petroleum Operating Company Limited from January 2011 to May 2011.
Many of Dr Gatkuoth’s colleagues remember him for his beautiful traits and exemplary life.
Dr Ruot G Teny, who has known Dr Gatkuoth for the last 17 years, and worked with him closely in Bentiu State Hospital in 2011, said this about him: “Dr Gatkuoth was a dedicated and committed doctor, who executed his duties with passion. His dream was to see indiscriminate access to healthcare services for all. By his death, we lost a talented doctor and leader”.
Another of his colleague, Dr Jonathan Majok, remembers him as a decent, empathetic, and dedicated professional. He was known as a soft-spoken gentleman who appeared too young for his age but exceptionally knowledgeable, with a steady smile throughout the long hours of duty and surgeries. Dr Majok said: “Dr Gatkouth was also extremely humble, a trait that brings him the closer to the hearts of people and the epitome of great physicians.” He added: “It was a normal scene to find him with his untucked shirt chatting with patients and their companions who rarely referred to him as doctor, but rather addressed him by his known name Garo.”
Born on 7 August 1983, Dr Gatkuoth studied at St Stephen Primary School (1990-1999) and Ali Al-Said Secondary School (1999-2002) in Khartoum, Sudan. At the time of his death, Dr Gatkuoth was unmarried.
The medical fraternity will surely miss Dr. Gatkuoth’s friendly personality, sense of humour and boundless talents.
