Muslim doctor who warned British PM about PPE dies after contracting coronavirus

Tariq Butt, Correspondent

A British Muslim doctor diagnosed with coronavirus has died — three weeks after he warned Prime Minister Boris Johnson that health workers urgently need more personal protective equipment (PPE).

Abdul Mabud Chowdhury with his family. Facebook photo

Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, 53, passed away after 15 days in hospital. He was originally from Bangladesh. On March 18 he wrote a message to Johnson asking him to "urgently" ensure personal protective equipment for "each and every NHS worker in the UK."

He told the prime minister that healthcare workers "are in direct contact with patients" and have a "human right like others to live in this world disease-free with our family and children."

Dr Chowdhury was a locum urologist who worked at Homerton Hospital in East London and died at Queen's Hospital in Romford after testing positive for coronavirus. He was survived by his wife and two children.

Abdul Mabud Chowdhury with his wife.

Taking to Facebook last month, Dr Chowdhury wrote: "Dear and Respectable Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Please ensure urgently Personal Protective Equipment [PPE] for each and every NHS health worker in the UK. Remember we may be doctor/nurse/HCA/allied health workers who are in direct contact with patients but we are also human beings trying to live in this world disease free with our family and friends. People appreciate us and salute us for our rewarding jobs which is very inspirational, but I would like to say we have to protect ourselves and our families in this global disaster."