The owner of a Dubai clinic who treated low-income families and labourers free of charge has died from cardiac arrest at age 73.
Dr Shirva Amiruddin ran the Amiruddin Clinic in Hor Al Anz, a Dubai district which is home to a large population of blue-collar workers, for 35 years.
The Indian doctor died on Thursday and leaves behind his wife, two daughters and a son.
UAE residents took to social media to pay tribute, with one poster saying “He literally opened this clinic to help the unfortunate”.
His daughter Henna Amiruddin spoke to The National about her father's work in the UAE.
“We are really grateful to all the people that have called us and spoken so highly about my father. He has served our community, especially the needy,” she said.
“The area that he had his clinic had a lot of low-income and labourers working there. They would come to my father and ask if he could treat them as they didn’t have money. He would happily treat them for free. Even for patients, otherwise, who would come to him and didn’t have enough to pay, he would say ‘pay whatever you can’.”
She said her father was not “money-minded” and stayed true to the doctor’s oath of serving the community.
He moved to the UAE 40 years ago and started his clinic five years later.
“He’s treated generations of families because they trusted him and they knew that he only wished the best for them,” she said.
Marby Sapad, a nurse who worked with the dedicated doctor for 10 years, said that he would also distribute free medicines to the needy.
She said that many low-income families and labourers would travel from different Emirates to get treated by him.
“He was a very great and down to earth man. He was very dedicated to his profession and compassionate," she said.
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Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
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Mobile phone packages comparison
How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
Indoor Cricket World Cup Dubai 2017
Venue Insportz, Dubai; Admission Free
Day 1 fixtures (Saturday)
Men 1.45pm, Malaysia v Australia (Court 1); Singapore v India (Court 2); UAE v New Zealand (Court 3); South Africa v Sri Lanka (Court 4)
Women Noon, New Zealand v South Africa (Court 3); England v UAE (Court 4); 5.15pm, Australia v UAE (Court 3); England v New Zealand (Court 4)
Thanksgiving meals to try
World Cut Steakhouse, Habtoor Palace Hotel, Dubai. On Thursday evening, head chef Diego Solis will be serving a high-end sounding four-course meal that features chestnut veloute with smoked duck breast, turkey roulade accompanied by winter vegetables and foie gras and pecan pie, cranberry compote and popcorn ice cream.
Jones the Grocer, various locations across the UAE. Jones’s take-home holiday menu delivers on the favourites: whole roast turkeys, an array of accompaniments (duck fat roast potatoes, sausages wrapped in beef bacon, honey-glazed parsnips and carrots) and more, as well as festive food platters, canapes and both apple and pumpkin pies.
Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, The Address Hotel, Dubai. This New Orleans-style restaurant is keen to take the stress out of entertaining, so until December 25 you can order a full seasonal meal from its Takeaway Turkey Feast menu, which features turkey, homemade gravy and a selection of sides – think green beans with almond flakes, roasted Brussels sprouts, sweet potato casserole and bread stuffing – to pick up and eat at home.
The Mattar Farm Kitchen, Dubai. From now until Christmas, Hattem Mattar and his team will be producing game- changing smoked turkeys that you can enjoy at home over the festive period.
Nolu’s, The Galleria Mall, Maryah Island Abu Dhabi. With much of the menu focused on a California inspired “farm to table” approach (with Afghani influence), it only seems right that Nolu’s will be serving their take on the Thanksgiving spread, with a brunch at the Downtown location from 12pm to 4pm on Friday.
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