‘Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country’.
These were the words that Late Dr Baddley Ashton Anita often used to remind his children of his hard work and dedication to the church and his country, Solomon Islands.
Dr Anita, who is the country’s first veterinarian surgeon, was called to rest on 1st March 2023 in India.
His body arrived back in the country on Sunday and his funeral service was held at Saint Barnabas Cathedral yesterday afternoon.
Speaking at his eulogy, Dr Leanne Anita Ramoifuila, his daughter, described her father as a “very strict person” especially when it comes to his children’s education and church life.
Late Dr Anita’s tertiary education began in 1982 in Fiji, after he completed his secondary education at Selwyn College and King George. In Fiji he did his Bachelor in Science, where he also met his wife.
He then furthered his education in Queensland, Australia and graduated in 1986.
“During his studies, he and my mom welcomed Robert and Christine into their family. Myself, Joanne and Joyce came later once they moved back to the Solomons and he started working,” Dr Ramoifuila said.
She said her father initially worked under the Solomon Islands Government in the agriculture sector in 1991.
“…however, he saw a need to go private to meet the needs of more people and their pets. Hence, in 1993 – 30 years ago – he opened his clinic and surgery in China Town where it still is today.”
She said over the years, he continued to enhance his knowledge, training and experience, including undergoing specialised studies in marine/aquatic life.
She said he was privileged to travel around the world, representing not only the Solomon Islands but also the Pacific, visiting countries such as Africa, USA, Chile, Europe, China and, through his practice, he had been offered several job opportunities from countries within and outside the Pacific.
“Despite us all trying to get him to accept the job offers, he declined all offers as, according to him, he underwent veterinary studies to help the people of Solomon Islands as well as the agriculture and livestock industry.
“He used to always remind us of the quote ‘ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country’,” Dr Ramoifuila said.
She said her father worked “extremely hard” and, despite being diagnosed with diabetes and later on hypertension some 20 years ago, he continued to strive in his work.
In 2018, while visiting his daughter in Australia, he fell ill and was noted to be in renal/kidney failure, but he returned to Solomon Islands to continue to go to work even while on dialysis.
“He continued on with peritoneal dialysis till 2021 during the COVID outbreak where we noted his peritoneal dialysis tube wasn’t working well. Due to this, he went to Fiji to receive further care.
“…while there he also had some cardiac/heart issues, hence due to this we decided to have him go to India for further care,” Dr Ramoifuila said.
She said in India he underwent triple bypass surgery for his heart which he recovered quite fast.
“He was to await full recovery before further surgery such as his kidney transplant, of which my elder sister was to be his donor.
“However, during this recovery period he suddenly succumbed from a likely unexpected pulmonary embolism and his heart stopped,” she said.
Of all her father’s hard work and achievements, Dr Ramoifuila said her father was not one to publicize or make a spectacle of his many accomplishments and these are what his family will remember him for.
Late Dr Anita was laid to rest at his residence.
