Kuils River and surrounding areas are in deep mourning over the death of well-known Dr Ferhan Khan.
Khan was a consummate physician. He exemplified the importance of hard work and close observation and had a practical approach to the issues at hand.
His warmth, compassion and concern for his patients made him a role model. In his passing, we lost a medical colossus, a caregiver, whose utmost devotion, will never be matched in our lifetime. Khan was an integral part of his community, making his loss an intimate one. We are both comforted and numbed by the outpouring of grief for this beloved medical icon.
We draw the lesson that life is fleeting and it becomes clear that death is the great equaliser no matter who the person. Death reminds us of our own mortality as human beings. In sorrow, we mourn our monumental loss.
Khan was a fearless medical first responder, a warrior who was doing the hard fighting and risked his life during the Covid-19 pandemic, trying to save humanity from an enemy that is 1/900th the width of a human hair.
He made the supreme sacrifice fighting for the health of all of us. Khan refused to retreat in the wake of this unprecedented biological calamity. We must applaud the heroic efforts of courageous and inspiring doctors like Khan, who made the difference between life and death.
Khan fought this viral war with unmatched compassion, placing himself at risk of exposure to the pathogen. Medicine cures diseases, but only a doctor can cure patients. – Carl Jung.
Khan will be remembered and honoured as a medical professional par excellence. He demonstrated compassion and personal sacrifice while providing health care to a marginalised population in a poor community. His gift was humility, unassuming demeanour and generosity of spirit.
The dedication that he showed to caring for every person in a holistic, kind and compassionate way was second to none; he won the admiration and confidence of his patients in one session. He epitomised what medical care is about. Khan put his life on the line every day, not seeking headlines or glory, but for the simple satisfaction of helping and saving his patients.
He saved many lives, and his special and powerful contributions will never be forgotten. He remains, to this day, a household name in his community.
He positively influenced the world he inhabited. Khan had humanity in spades towards all who came to seek medical treatment. He knew the problems of his patients were best solved by getting to know them from all possible angles. His unsurpassed clinical judgement will be his legacy for all to remember, Generations to come will hardly believe that a doctor of Ferhan Khan’s calibre walked on this earth.
Our priceless loss is Almighty Allah’s gain. I pray that Almighty Allah gives us all the strength to withstand this tragic moment. May Allah rest his noble soul in total peace, his abode in Janaat is an absolute certainty. Never in his geographical area, has one man done so much for so many without seeking any compensation.
* Farouk Araie, Benoni.
** The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Independent Media.
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