Tributes paid to Professor Sam Ramaiah

Tributes have been pouring in to celebrate the life of Professor Sam Ramaiah, Walsall’s Director of Public Health, who died earlier this week.

Professor Ramaiah made an outstanding contribution to the health and well-being of the people of Walsall.
As Director of Public Health and NHS Walsall’s Medical Director, Professor Ramaiah was committed to tackling health inequality. He led campaigns covering a wide range of issues including teenage pregnancy, healthy living and improving the life expectancy of people born and brought up in disadvantaged communities. To mark this commitment, he was a co-founder of WELCOME - a voluntary group of health service managers and professionals devoted to improving health and well being for minority ethnic groups.Professor Ramaiah’s dedication to improving the lives of local people was also illustrated by his involvement as Chairman of Governors for Walsall Adult and Community College and as a member of the boards of Walsall Housing Group, Caldmore Area Housing Association and New Deal New Horizons. 

Professor Ramaiah arrived in England from Bangalore, India, in 1974 after gaining a degree in medicine.  He worked for the NHS in Wales and Middlesborough before being appointed as Walsall’s Director for Public Health in 1992. Professor Ramaiah’s daughter India said:  “My father was so generous and caring in the way that he looked after us and looked after everyone else.  We are so proud of him and what he achieved in his life.”

Denise McLellan, Chief Executive of NHS Walsall, said:  “So many people were enriched by Sam’s dedication to public service and have reason to be grateful for his life. As well as helping local people to live longer, happier and more fulfilled lives he inspired a generation of public health staff to carry on his work.”

Paul Sheehan, Walsall Council Chief Executive, said: “Sam was one of the most outstanding public figures in Walsall’s history who made a huge difference to the lives of the people who live here and we will miss him.”

Dr Jammi Rao, West Midlands Deputy Regional Director of Public Health, said:  “Sam was an ardent supporter of action to improve the health of minority and disadvantaged groups in the community. Sam valued education above anything else. His favourite charity was a school in Bangalore that strove to bring learning to poor children in rural Karnataka, the state in India from where he came. Sam loved the company of friends and family and was a great organiser of groups, conferences and events that soon earned a reputation for being must-attend occasions. With his wife, Jyothi, Sam was an ardent supporter of many charitable and cultural organisations and events, raising money for good causes and promoting art and culture.”

Paul Rowlands, Chief Executive of New Horizons Community Enterprise, said:  “Sam has been connected closely with this area for many years and was a founder signatory of the submission to the Government which was successful in obtaining the New Deal for Communities grant funding. He was a real champion against disadvantage and his role as a Board Member throughout the programme, greatly helped the transformation of this area and its community, Aftab Nawaz, of Birchills Mosque, Walsall, said:  “Sam was a good man and one with a real vision of tackling our society's health inequalities. His personal enthusiasm and his sincerity in helping our minority communities to improve their health was immensely positive and has been acknowledged by our community in Walsall for many years. It is not often such people come along who have an intimate understanding and selfless commitment to help our people.”

Professor Ramaiah, who was 62, died on Monday night at Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield.  He was taken there from his home in Streetly after suffering a heart attack.  He leaves a wife, Jyothi, and two children, India and Bharat.  

 
Professor Ramaiah’s funeral is due to take place in Bangalore, India tomorrow (Saturday).