Sierra Leone Telegraph: 28 August 2020:
In recent weeks, Sierra Leone has lost a few of its young and brilliant men and women, who died through non-COVID related illness, including the country’s Deputy High Commissioner to the UK – Mrs Agnes Dugba Macauley who was buried in Kono last week.
A few days ago, another sad news was reported of the death of one of the country’s most qualified Medical Doctors – Dr. Jumoke Koso-Thomas, who passed away in London, aged 55 after battling with cancer.
Jumoke is married to Mr Wilfred Wright. She is also the daughter of renowned Sierra Leonean academic scholar, philanthropist, and civil engineer – the retired Professor Kosonike Koso-Thomas who is now in his late eighties. Jumoke’s mother – Mrs Olayinka Koso-Thomas is also a medical doctor.
Jumoke attended the Annie Walsh Memorial School in Freetown and later studied medicine. She worked in Sierra Leone for sometime, before moving to London.
She is a gynaecologist and a Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG).
She is also a Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP) and worked in the UK NHS as a General Practitioner (GP), and as a partner at The Shrubbery and Riverview Park Surgeries in Kent, who published this obituary message a few days ago:
“It is with the greatest sadness that The Shrubbery and Riverview Park Surgeries announce the death of Dr Jumoke Koso-Thomas, our partner, dear friend and passionate advocate for primary care and our patients.
“She had been suffering from cancer, and sadly lost the last battle last night, surrounded by her family, whose pain we share. We will only be open in a limited way today, for urgent matters, and you will kindly understand if we are a little distracted at times.”
Jumoke was a member of various organisations including the Annie Walsh Old Girls Association UK and the Krio Descendants Union (KDU).
This is what a former Principal of the Annie Walsh Memorial School, who was also Jumoke’s French teacher – Madame Williams said: “AWOGANS have recently described Late Jumoke as lovely, gentle, kind, sweet, clever and resourceful, a precious soul, a beautiful soul, a beloved person. From first hand experience, I know that this is no exaggeration.
“I will further add that as my student, Jumoke was soft spoken and very well behaved. When I heard the news of her passing away, I was stunned and dumbstruck. I send now my heartfelt sympathy to her parents, Professor Kosonike and Dr Yinka Koso- Thomas and the rest of the family for this painful and irreparable loss. May God, in His mercy, grant Jumoke, a peaceful and eternal rest”.
Jumoke will be greatly missed by all who knew her, especially her family. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
Below is a photo taken by the Sierra Leone Telegraph of Jumoke Koso-Thomas standing second from right – with fellow Annie Walsh Old Girls Association (AWOGA) members celebrating the 170th Anniversary of the Annie Walsh Memorial School, in December 2019 in London.
Dr Koso-Thomas was a lovely lady. Nobody else at the surgery can hold a torch to the skills she had. I have already missed her for years as I am housebound, and now learning of her death, sadly will never see that gentle and knowledgeable lady Doctor again. Rest in peace doctor. Your star shines bright over the lives you have touched.
So sad to hear this. She was a lovely Dr to meet – always smiling and considerate; always listening not judgemental. You will be greatly missed. Sleep on beloved, where there is no more pain.
May her soul rest in peace. May the angels look after her just like the good work she was doing in helping look after others medical needs. In the name of Jesus . AMEN
I was standing by the surgery door hoping to book an appointment with her, I am deeply saddened by her death, one of my favourite Doctor, soft, gentle and very professional who always supports my family when I enter her practice room. May our Lord Jesus Christ keep you at peace with the angels, Amen.
Sad day for our Nation, Family and Friends of our Dear Departed Sister. Sorry Brother Wilfred Wright (Husband) and entire family. Love & Gods Grace
May her dear soul rest in Perfect Peace. My sympathy to the Family and to us Sierra Leoneans.. Leh we all hush en we pray make God gie am good Road..
I am Saddened by the news.
Such grief. I am so saddened. My condolences to the family.
So sorry to hear the sad news. Dr Koso-Thomas was a very good and well-respected doctor at our local practice.
A wonderful person and a brilliant GP. A true privilege to have Dr Koso-Thomas as our family GP. My thoughts and prayers are with her, her family, friends and her colleagues. A huge loss to our community. Rest in peace; such a sad loss. Taken far too soon.
Heartbroken. What a beautiful woman. The parasitic cancer is a curse to the human existence. I hope one day a permanent cure is found, and see to it that it wholly rids this yuck that keeps intruding and picking us apart. May her soul rest in perfect peace.
The only guarantee that the Almighty gave us is that everyone will taste the bitterness of death, but no guarantee about the exact time, which explains why her parents in their nineties are still alive. But regardless, we should always give thanks and praises to the Almighty, because he is the giver and taker so we can’t question his judgment.
May her Soul Continue to Rest In Perfect Peace.
What a loss, to be taken at the prime of her life. May her soul rest in perfect peace. I see that Professor Koso-Thomas’s age has been changed on this glorious forum. So as the article says he is in his late eighties and not in his nineties.