Eric Yao Doku was born on 17th December 1964 at Sogakoƒe in the Volta region of Ghana to the late Mathew Doku of Vakpo and Madam Comfort Abrã Doe of Vakpo Aƒeɣi.

Eric confirmed as a Christian at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana and was brought up in such manner. Eric attended Tamale Secondary School where he read Science (Biology, Physics, and Chemistry) for his High School Education and his Sixth Form Education at Tema Secondary School (Temasco) in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. 

After his Sixth Form Education, he was posted to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra for his National Service. While there, he developed strong liking for medicine and its related fields. By the time he completed his one-year National Service, he took the decision to study Medical Laboratory Technology. 

Eric enrolled into the School of Medical Laboratory Technology at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH). Upon completion, he headed a satellite laboratory in the training school. In this position, he mentored his trainees, many of whom have advanced in the same profession, practicing at home and abroad. Eric has arrived! The dream is alive indeed. This spared him on to pursue a diploma course in Medical Laboratory Technology at the University of Ghana, Legon - Accra. He later left Legon to continue his studies in the United Kingdom. 

In 1999, Eric graduated with BSc (Hons) degree in Biomedical Science from the prestigious Manchester University UK. His pursuit for knowledge never dwindled. 

He continued to study as he worked and obtained MSc in Medical Molecular biology at University of Westminster, London UK. He also studied for PgCert in Renal Pathology in 2003 and PgCert in Quality System Management in 2004 at the Greenwich University, London UK. 

He later married Rebecca Awoenam Avotri in 2003 and they were blessed with a son the following year. 

Eric fellowshipped with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, East Dulwich Parish, Dulwich Grove, London. He was very much involved in the growth and developmental activities of the church. Eric was a hard worker in the Lord’s vineyard and rendered selfless service to the Parish. 

He was appointed Chairman of the Welfare Committee and also as the Congregational Session Clerk for the Church in 2013. In that same year, he became a patron of the Agbeyeye Group (a singing group within the church). 

He held these roles with diligence and dedication. Eric was later on consecrated Presbyter of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church Ghana in November 2017.

Eric was a gentleman. He was diligent, respectful, hardworking and was liked by all. His calm and well composed nature were traits he started exhibiting from his formative years. He was also assertive, meticulous, dedicated, disciplined and a sincere critique. 

He loved good things with passion. He had great love for gadgetry, music and used to DJ. He also loved dancing. His peculiarity streamed across every facet of his being. Irrespective of his love for gadgetry, he detested one invention - camera. He believed no matter how bright the flash was, it still did not capture his face effectively.

Eric has left a legacy behind and will be greatly missed.  He had a wicked sense of humour. He had impact which truly inspired those around him. He was a quiet and reserved man, yet everything about him forced him into the lives of those who shared his presence and in turn truly loved him.

Eric suddenly became ill in January 2015. He battled the ailment with dignity, strength, knowledge and strong faith in God Almighty. He has been in and out of hospital for almost 4 years. Through the benevolence of friends, family and well-wishers, Eric underwent further treatment in Germany in August 2018. He was confident , full of hope and smile on his return from Germany.  

However, heaven needed an angel and God decided to call Eric. He breathed his last breath surrounded by family and friends on Saturday 13th October 2018. 

Eric worked as a Medical Laboratory Technician at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana.

He also worked as a Biomedical Scientist at Kings College Hospital, London, United Kingdom.

Furthermore, he worked as a Senior Biomedical Scientist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital Cambridge, School of Tropical Medicine, University College Hospital London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, all in the United Kingdom.

Eric was also a Fellow of “The Institute of Biomedical Sciences (IBMS), UK and Chartered Scientist of the Science Council, UK.”

The majority of Eric’s colleagues said they will remember him for his passion for delivering exceptional service to patients, impact, professionalism and personality as a gentle giant and a true gentleman.

They also said they will remember him for always reminding them that there is a patient behind the sample and for his catchphrases – “with qualifications come responsibilities”, and “we are here to work and not to make friends”. They also indicated he would say to staff if an error was made “you have killed a patient!”

Eric participated in a number of projects while working at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK.

He was involved in the new study of HIV saliva testing conducted by Chelsea and Westminster hospital.

He was responsible for training of medical staff on sample collection, setting up and running of tests, writing protocols and data collection for the trial. He was also involved in presentation of findings. 

He was key to the implementation and delivery of a novel postal service for sexual health screening.

He helped set up and centralise the Internal Quality Assurance system which is currently in
use in the Infection and Immunity laboratory.

He was key to transitioning the laboratory through accreditation despite doing most of this work from home during his treatments

Eric was working as a Biomedical Scientist (Virologist) at North West London Pathology, Infection and Immunity Sciences, Charing Cross Hospital when he took ill in 2015. A position he held until he breathed his last.

• M Rayment, E Doku, et al. Automatic oral fluid- based HIV 

  testing in HIV screening programmes: automatic for the 

  people. HIV Medicine (2013), 14 (Suppl. 3), 49–52.

• M Rayment, C Rae, F Ghooloo, E Doku, et al. Routine 

  HIV testing in the emergency department: tough lessons 

  in sustainability. HIV Medicine (2013), 14 (Suppl. 3), 

  6–9.

• Rayment M, Thornton A, Mandalia S, et al. HIV testing in 

  non-traditional settings – the HINTS Study: A Multi-Centre 

  Observational Study of Feasibility and Acceptability. PLoS 

  ONE 2012; 7: e39530. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039530.