New doctor keen on rural lifestyle
Anew doctor recruited to a rural Wimmera hospital has paid tribute to ‘country living’ as she settles into her role.
Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital welcomed Dr Sabiha Rimi, husband Fahmedul and their eight-year-old son Sameed to Edenhope at the beginning of the month.
The hospital announced Dr Sabiha’s recruitment in early April, however COVID-19 restrictions disrupted her plans to move interstate from her previous home in Adelaide.
The general practitioner is eager to settle into her new position with the Rural Doctors team that now operates Edenhope Medical Clinic, formerly Edenhope Hospital Medical Clinic.
Dr Sabiha will be the visiting medical officer at Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital and will be available for appointments at the newly re-established medical clinic.
Rural Doctors, who run clinics in Nhill and Kaniva and provide service to Goroke, took over the Edenhope clinic on April 10.
Dr Sabiha said she was excited about living in a rural community, which would also allow her to be closer to some of her family who live in Melbourne.
“When we visited Edenhope I really liked the town, especially the lake,” she said.
“This move will provide a better quality of life for my family.
‘I had been travelling two hours a day from Adelaide to Tailem Bend where I was working.”
Dr Sabiha grew up in Bangladesh, where she completed her studies and training.
“I grew up in a small country town where everyone knew everyone, so Edenhope will be very familiar to me – I am looking forward to getting to know everyone,” she said.
Dr Sabiha and her husband landed in Adelaide in 2012, where she worked in a general practice.
Her work then took her to a medical practice at Tailem Bend, which also serviced a hospital and aged-care centre.
Dr Sabiha has more than 12 years overseas general practice experience and an additional three years in Australia.
Edenhope and District Memorial Hospital chief executive Andrew Saunders said securing a new doctor was a great outcome for the rural medical clinic.
“This is a fantastic outcome and I would like to thank the community for their patience and support while we have been working to secure doctor services for our community,” he said.
“I would also like to thank the staff at our medical clinic, who have been a great support to me and the team during this uncertain time.”
The hospital also farewelled Dr Lalani Udalamatta, who served the hospital for many years.
“I would also like to personally thank Dr Lalani for the outstanding service she has provided to the hospital, clinic and the community throughout the past seven years,” Mr Saunders said.
“A big thank-you must also go to her husband Bandu, who provided support to Dr Lalani and was a great contributor to the community.”
Due to COVID-19 restrictions the hospital was unable to provide an official farewell for Dr Lalani.
Instead the medical clinic offered community members an opportunity to send a personal note or card to the couple.
Edenhope Medical Clinic is open five days a week between 8.30am and 5pm and is now a bulk-billing clinic.