AAPI Organizes 3rd Annual Free Community Health Fair

SAN ANTONIO: Continuing with the tradition of offering free medical services to the local population, where the annual Convention is being held every year, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) organized its annual Community Health Fair in San Antonio, TX on Sunday, June 29, even as the 32nd annual convention, attended by nearly 2,000 delegates from across the nation concluded here.

Hundreds of homeless people lined up bright and early on Sunday morning to avail themselves of a unique opportunity for free medical checkup offered by Medical Missions and Community Service Committee of AAPI at their door steps. During the third annual Health Fair organized at “Haven for Hope,” a Homeless Shelter in San Antonio Downtown. Participants filled out the history questionnaire and signed the Liability Waiver before going for medical services provided by several dedicated AAPI members.

“We offered vital signs measurement, Blood tests for total cholesterol, HDL, Sugar and Noninvasive Hemoglobin and consultation with primary care and various available specialists including internist, pediatrician, pulmonologist and critical care, urologist, obstetrician and gynecologist, anesthesiologist and pathologist,” Dr. Nitin Shah, an organizer of the Clinic here and a pioneering AAPI leader said. “Having more specialists could have benefited several patients as there was a need for many more medical and surgical specialists like general surgeon, gastroenterologist, ophthalmologists,” he added.

“Once again, these AAPI members have showed their dedication by conducting the free Community Health Fair, so well organized by the host city of San Antonio,” Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, President of AAPI, while praising the efforts of AAPI members in reaching out to the local community during the Convention, said. Describing them to “role models in selfless service for the younger AAPI generation,” Dr. Jahagirdar wished “them continued success.”.

 Lauding the initiative of the AAPI delegates, inspired by AAPI’s mission, Dr. Jayesh Shah, immediate past-President of AAPI, stated, “AAPI is built on Core Value of Service.” And he commended “Medical Student, Resident and Fellow Section and Community Service Committee for continuing this tradition of service by bringing health care to needy and poor and the homeless patients of San Antonio.”

Dr. Nitin Shah praised the volunteers of Haven for Hope, led by Luke and Annette, who did a stellar job, coordinating all the arrangements. They also secured donation of Blankets, undergarments, socks, muffins, and fruits etc. for the participants. “There was no charge for AAPI to use the facility. Their help was invaluable!” Dr. Shah said.

 Dr. Sudhir Gogu, Dr. Nick Shroff, Dr. Nitin Shah, his wife Kinna Gandhi and the Jagirdar family, including Dr. Jaishree Jagirdar, her husband Sudhir and daughter Sima were present for during the entire half day, helping at various stages of the Clinic.

 The AAPI delegates provided these services free of cost helping out at every level of the clinic. Dr. Nitin Shah and Dr. Nick Shroff even helped local volunteers with registration of participants as they needed help due to overwhelming response from the patients. Dr. Kinjal Shah, Dr. Rakesh Gupta, Dr. Madhu Agarwal, Dr. Vijay Patel and Dr. Choudhary offered much required medical help to the patients, while Jaishreeben’s volunteer team, Hansa Venkatram, Hansa Bhulla and Rama Joolakuntula did a phenomenal job with the blood tests employing finger prick method.

Dr. Sudhir Gogu commented next day “I feel so satisfied we could bring basic healthcare to the homeless and poor people at the healthfair”. “It was an amazing priceless experience to serve these many real needy people in a short period of time with limited resources and manpower,” Dr. Nick Shroff, chairman of AAPI’s Charitable Foundation said. “We heartily congratulate all those who could help, I am sure they all, like me and my wife, left the place very satisfied of doing a very noble humanitarian work,” Dr. Nitin Shah added.

“We thank AAPI, MSRF of AAPI, AAPI Charitable Foundation and our other sponsors Dr. Jasvant and Dr. Mira Modi of Southern California, Dr. Krishan and Dr. Madhu Agarwal, and Mr. and Dr. Jagirdar for their financial support. The credit for the job extremely well done should go to Dr. Jaishree Jagirdar, she with her family served AAPI’s 3rd Annual Free Community Health Fair with “Tan, Man, and Dhan” Dr. Shah added. “We hope AAPI will choose to continue this tradition of helping underserved community in at least this small way in years to come!” Dr. Nitin Shah hopes.

“We thank AAPI, MSRF of AAPI, AAPI Charitable Foundation and our other sponsors Dr. Jasvant and Dr. Mira Modi of Southern California, Dr. Krishan and Dr. Madhu Agarwal, and Mr. and Dr. Jagirdar for their financial support.

The credit for the job extremely well done should go to Dr. Jaishree Jagirdar, she with her family served AAPI’s 3rd Annual Free Community Health Fair with “Tan, Man, and Dhan” DR. Shah added. “We hope AAPI will choose to continue this tradition of helping underserved community in at least this small way in years to come!” Dr. Nitin Shah hopes.