Organized a Community Health Fair.
By The American Bazaar Staff
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS: The American Association for Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) organized its third annual Free Community Health Fair here last Sunday, June 29, offering no-cost medical care to hundreds of homeless individuals in the Texan city.
AAPI held the Free Community Health Fair at the city’s “Haven for Hope” homeless shelter in the downtown area. Those who partook in the fair had to sign a questionnaire regarding their medical backgrounds and sign a liability waiver, but the healthcare they received was 100% free of charge.
“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,” said Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, AAPI’s new President who was sworn in during the organization’s annual gala festivities last month.
Jahagirdar added that the AAPI members who gave their time and knowledge to the fair were “role models in selfless service for the younger AAPI generation.”
The care provided included vital signs measurement, blood tests for cholesterol levels and sugar levels, non-invasive hemoglobin screenings, and consultations with primary care physicians. A host of specialists was also on hand to see patients, in fields such as pediatrics, pulmonology, urology, and gynecology, among several others.
“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,” said Dr. Nitin Shah, an AAPI organizer.
The successful AAPI Free Community Health Fair continues a string of recent successes for the organization, which is the largest minority-centric group in the US healthcare industry. In addition to providing health services, AAPI collected donations of blankets, clothing, and other garments, ensuring that the care given during Sunday’s clinic could be preserved by giving individuals what they need to maintain their health.
“AAPI is built on Core Value of Service,” said former President Dr. Jayesh Shah. “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.”