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Dr Razi

In this issue of Huvaas, our 'Ask' column features a prominent Maldivian doctor who enjoys the love, trust and respect of many people. A professional with a lot of experience, Dr Razi has a unique personality. He gets on well with people of all ages and is happy to blend into any social setting.
Here are the questions our readers prepared for him.

Mohamed, from Eltaa house in Henveiru ward asks:
We always see you dressed in white. Why? Please tick one of the answers below:
1. Because I support cricket players even though I don't play.
2. I like to be seen in white.
3. To make life easier for my wife when she selects my clothes.
4. The white clothes show how clean I am inside.
5. For religious reasons.
Dr Razi answers: I would like to tick all these numbers.

Dr Razi gets colourful

Nadeema asks:
Doctor, is it easier for you to see patients if they come to see you in the hospital or the clinic?
Answer: In this case, I prefer whatever is most convenient for the patient. Someone who is sick in the morning can't wait until the evening, but personally I would rather see patients at the beginning of the working day.

Idrees Umar asks:
Dr Razi, your beard has gone grey, so why do you keep your hair dyed black?
Answer: As soon as I figure out why my hair is dark, I'll use the technique on my beard as well.

Saeed asks:
Dr Razi, you often visit teashops and sit there eating with your sleeves rolled up. Are public teashops actually better than home?
Answer: I wouldn't say it's better, but one can experience things that can't be experienced sitting at home, and discuss things that otherwise wouldn't be talked about.

Saeed asks:
You are so busy day and night; how do you spend your free time?
Answer: I go night fishing in my free time. It provides a golden opportunity to reflect to oneself in a quiet place.

Dr Razi at the office

Aisha from Feydhoo asks:
We have become aware of a close relationship between you and a girl who was working at the clinic. How did that happen?
Answer: I try to maintain very close relationships with all the people I work with.

Naree asks:
You must make a lot of money from your practice. Why haven't you bought a bicycle, a motorbike or a car?
Answer: It's not a matter of the expense. I used to drive a motorbike a long time ago. In those days my stomach was three times as big as it is now. Now I can easily wear a size 30 pair of trousers. When I was on the motorbike it was about size 32. That's why I walk now, for health reasons and to get some exercise.

Naree asks:
With all this money you earn, do you give any away for charity?
Answer: A certain amount. For the sake of Allah, I pay for the education of various children. I'm not prepared to give you the exact number, but there are children in training courses and receiving my help.

Niyaz asks:
You recite Quran very beautifully. Why don't you become a mudhim [normal leader of the prayer at the mosque] as a second job?
Answer: All I can say to that is that there is a limit to the number of part-time jobs one can do.

Nafiu asks:
What makes you happiest, Dr Razi?
Answer: The fact that my wife prays.

Fikree asks:
You advise people not to smoke but you yourself smoke in public places.
Answer: When I stop this habit, you won't see me smoking in public. I know it's a harmful habit but it's something that I do and I don't want to hide it.

Hameed asks:
Dr Razi, what needs to happen for you to start wearing coloured clothes?
Answer: I don't need a reason to wear coloured clothes. I can wear them anytime. But for the last thirteen years, I've been wearing white clothes. It's something I decided to do after an experience. That's all that happened.

Nasheed asks:
What sort of patients or illnesses do you find most difficult to treat?
Answer: I'm not bothered by the personality of any individual patient, but I do find it difficult to carry out procedures that cause pain to babies.
This may be the reason why I became a doctor for adults.
Of the illnesses, the most difficult to deal with are sexual problems and couple's sexual relationships.

Fiuna asks:
What has been the most satisfying thing you've done so far?
Answer: Successfully completing my involvement in the establishment of the Diabetes Clinic at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital [Malé].

Ameen asks:What has been your notable achievement up until now?
Answer: My part in the transfer from Kan'dholhudhoo in Raa atoll of the island's fish drying industry to nearby Badaveri island in 1987.
The environment of Kan'dholhudhoo was in a very unhealthy state, and based on a proposal I made the authorities decided to act. But the notable thing about this response was it took only a week to complete the process, from the initial discussion to the completion of the shift.

Ameen asks:
What is your biggest regret?
Answer: Not being able to attain a high level of formal training in the treatment of kidney ailments.
Because I was interested in this specialist area and had some practical training, I did some dialysis work in the Central Hospital. I also carried out some research in Maldives into kidney diseases.
But due to the official responsibilities of my job, by the time I had the opportunity to do a post-doctoral university course I was too old for admittance.
Now I carry out haemodialysis [dialysis of the blood to remove toxic substances or metabolic wastes from the bloodstream; used in the case of kidney failure] treatment at the Indhira Gandhi Memorial Hospital. I learnt about this procedure during a very short period of training in France. It wasn't training at a high enough level to learn how to treat all the ailments related to the kidney.

Abusi asks:
You see a lot of different patients. What particular sort of diseases do you treat?
Answer: I specialise in treating internal illnesses. Diabetes, tuberculosis, and kidney diseases are some of the areas where I have had specialist experiences and training.

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