Bilal Shah
Dr Ahmed Bilal Shah was a Pakistan born medical practitioner and television personality. He succumbed to Covid-19 complications aged 67.
Background
Shah was originally from Pakistan but settled in Zimbabwe after he came into the country in 1982.[1]
Wife
He was married to Tayyba.[2]
Children
Shah and his wife had two daughters and a son. One of his daughters was named Hareem Shah.[2]
Career
Bilal Shah first worked at Parirenyatwa Hospital where he rotated in different specialities. He started his practice in July 1987 in high-density areas and was arguably the first foreign doctor to work in the high-density areas which were dominated by black doctors.
In 1992, he was introduced to Reuben Barwe who asked Bilal to deliver a programme on ZBC. Bilal was interviewed on 14 topics.
He was then asked to continue the programmes as an anchor and he accepted. Bilal started that programme, “You and Your Health”, in 1992 and it ran up to 2007. Bilal interviewed many doctors and specialists in the health profession and had the honour to interview Dr Christian Bernard, the South African surgeon who performed the world’s first human heart transplant in 1967.[1]
Dr Shah was also a presenter on ZBC’s Good Morning Zimbabwe Health Is Wealth Segment which aired every Thursday.[2]
Controversies
In 2006, Bilal Shah was ordered to pay a $70 700 fine or face one month in prison for flouting the Exchange Control Act.[3]
Death
Dr Bilal Shah died on 24 June 2021 from Covid-19 complications aged 69.[4] Journalist Edmund Kudzayi confirmed Shah's death saying Shah passed away at Parirenytwa Hospital and succumbed to COVID despite being fully vaccinated.[5]
A service was held for Dr Shah at the Masjid Abbas in Ridgeview before his burial at Warren Hills Cemetery on 25 June 2021.[6]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Runyararo Muzavazi & Tatenda Charamba, We need paradigm shift in health sector: Shah, The Herald, Published: October 27, 2020, Retrieved: June 25, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Elsie Mupoperi, Renowned medical practitioner, Dr Bilal Shah laid to rest, ZBC News, Published: June 25, 2021, Retrieved: June 25, 2021
- ↑ Zimbabwe: Doctor Fined, AllAfrica, Published: September 14, 2006, Retrieved: June 25, 2021
- ↑ ZBC News Online, Twitter, Published: June 25, 2021, Retrieved: June 25, 2021
- ↑ Edmund Kudzayi, Twitter, Published: June 25, 2021, Retrieved: June 25, 2021
- ↑ ZBC News Online, Twitter, Published: June 25, 2021, Retrieved: June 25, 2021
