Owner of new 24-hour clinic on a mission to help

There’s no doubt about it. Dr Abdullah Ekalvaya was destined for success where medical science is concerned.

The founder of Trident Care, one of the islands’ few 24-hour clinics, said even in the face of obstacles posed by life he knew he was created to make a difference.

“My mom told me she wanted a Doctor in the house and I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but because of how life [unravelled] I put down my head to study,” he told Barbados TODAY in his Belleville, St Michael, office.

As a teenager this Doctor, who is like a godsend to many Barbadians, had to deal with the passing of a close relative but that didn’t stop him from striving for excellence.

Nor did he allow the fact that English was not his first language to stop him from learning.

While chuckling under his breath, Dr Ekalvaya said he used to practise mathematics in his head by multiplying licence plate numbers, which he found kept his mind sharp.

“I would multiply all the numbers and this was when I was like four, or five. I had that natural ability to work with numbers as my English was very poor to be honest … I had to work even harder,” he said.

His older brother Sulieman, who was also an academic, helped him with these numbers.

Dr Ekalvaya said that he put down his head as a student at the St Michael’s School and would study for seven hours on end from 10 pm to 5 am to pass his CXC exams.

That was the year 2010 where he left St Michael’s and headed for 6th Form at Harrison College from 2012-2014.

“I studied for CXC’s like how I would study for medicine,” Dr Ekalvaya added.

The former student of Wesley Hall said he chose medicine initially because he was good with numbers.

“To be honest I didn’t think that I would become a doctor, I was just doing it, I didn’t enjoy it so much. I knew I had to do the sciences to become a doctor, for me it was a hurdle to get over. It was an interesting journey,” he said.

That discipline that this aspiring surgeon had, eventually got him into The University of the West Indies to study medicine from 2014-2019 and landed him an internship of which he was successful.

“Honestly, Medical school was a great experience. I met a lot of people as I like to interact and socialize and network and see what other people can bring, show and have, and I like learning from their experience. So, I think University was great. It was an eye opener for the real world,” the part time sportsman added.

Ekalvaya dabbled in playing road tennis, lawn tennis, table tennis, football and even cricket. For him, it helped to create a perfect balance outside of studying.

“I was not the best but I always put my foot into an activity to say that ten years from now, if my children want to play a sport they know how to throw a ball or to hit a bat. I would be able to do things. Just to be all rounded was the idea that I had in my head and to be able to interact with different people and it was fun as it was a coping mechanism.”

This balance was needed especially for  this medical entrepreneur who interned for eight months in the Accident and Emergency Department after completing med school.

He said it was an enjoyable experience as he came prepared to work hard.

“I loved it. I didn’t think that I would enjoy it as much as I did. I knew this is where I wanted to be. I didn’t find it hard adjusting. I was so set on becoming a Doctor that for me it was manageable doing what had to be done and I was very set on the hard work I had to put in,” he said.

Despite Dr Ekalvaya’s ability to work and play hard, he admits his faith as a Muslim has helped to propel him to higher heights.

“I think that faith is like the majority of [my success], as I said I really was not the brightest guy in my class,” he admitted humbly.

“I just knew that I was giving my best. I did my best and prayed to Allah. Even while I was studying, I would pray to Allah to make what is in front of me easier to understand and it really helped.”

As for running the 24-hour clinic Dr Ekalvaya said he’s taking it in stride.

“I don’t see myself as bigger than anyone else I would have worked with but I’ve had a lot of support from family and friends and [I’m grateful].”

As for the future, he says that not even the sky’s the limit but while he’s reaching up, he says that he hopes to help Barbadians of all backgrounds along the way.

“I would like to maintain the 24-hour clinic and to expand services. A Trident Care in every parish would be amazing but for the time being I’m studying [and managing ] what I can,” he said. (MR)