OVER 400 TREATED AT 26th SAI HEALTH FAIR
IN Global Mall, Norcross, ATLANTA
By Mahadev Desai
Despite heavy rain in the early hours of Sunday, March 27, 2011,
over 400 people came for medical services to the 26th SAI Health
Fair, held at the Impact Conference Center, Global Mall,
Norcross, Georgia. The Health Fair, as always, was spearheaded
by well-known physician, Dr. Sujatha Reddy as a tribute to the
life and legacy of Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr., and Mahatma
Gandhi and also to promote their philosophies of Non-violence,
community selfless service and Social justice. The event was
sponsored by the Georgia Association of Physicians of Indian
Origin (GAPI) and strongly supported by Global Mall, Sneham
Charities, physicians, health care professionals and volunteers.
This is GAPI’s 4th health fair this year under the leader ship
of President Dr. Sreeni Gangasani. Others were done in different
parts of the state to provide free services to uninsured and
underinsured in the state of Georgia.
Over 400 people of diverse nationalities and cultures from all
over Atlanta availed themselves of the free consultancy and
tests services provided by over 30 dedicated physicians
representing 16 specialties, 9 nurses and EKG technicians and
over 40 service-oriented volunteers including from Georgia State
University, Emory Medical School and UGA,Athens College of
Pharmacy who attended to the various health related concerns of
the people after they registered for blood tests, free EKGs;
free glaucoma and vision screenings; preventive Cardiology
tests, free Bone Density tests to detect osteoporosis and free
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Blood test at the SAI Health Fair.
Pic. by Narayan Swami |
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Bone Marrow Drive for Uma
Pic.by Mahadev Desai |
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Amee Khamar and Amy Fothergill at
SHAPE stand.
Pic.Mahadev Desai
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Consultancy in, dermatology, orthopedics, dentistry;
endocrinology, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, , ENT,
gastroenterology, , ophthalmology, chiropractic medicine
,physical therapy, chronic pain, Gynecology, and Physical Rehab
Medicine.
Many, including elderly and disabled people, lined-up as early
as 8.00 a.m. The spacious and well- lighted hall had neatly laid
out tables, and comfortable seating arrangements for the
attendees. The physicians, nurses and volunteers treated all
with cheerfulness, courtesy and dignity and in a relaxed manner.
over 175 EKGs (male and female) were carried out, by
Cardiovascular Group,PC,Lawrenceville, Over 100 vision and
Glaucoma screening tests, were done by Dr.Nikil Patel,Dr.Manan
Shah and Dr.Vidhya Phoenix, while Dr.Sridhar Krishnamurthy from
Auburn University performed over 26 audio screening tests. Bone
Mineral Density screening tests were in big demand More than 35
bone-density tests, were performed by a team of Madhusudhana
Siddagunta and Vijaya Reddy, Leela Kaul,and Vasantha Bhandari..
Majority of the attendees wanted Blood tests. Over 215 cost
–effective, basic quality comprehensive Chemistry profile of
blood tests with PSA, and HBA1c were carried out at a nominal
fee of $20 per test. The lab work was provided by American Labs.
Clinical Inc.in Stone Mountain. It is noteworthy that the
results of the blood work were mailed within 48 hours! The test
results helped identify some life threatening results which were
immediately notified to the participants.
A Bone Marrow Drive had also been arranged to help 6 year old
Uma. Dr.Indira Menoon from the Eye Physicians and
Surgeons,Decatur was manning the table where the attendees were
exhorted to sign up with Bone Marrow Registry for this worthy
humanitarian cause.
Amee Khamar from Emory University had set up an impressive and
educative display for its SHAPE Diabetes Prevention Program.
Amee thanked Dr.Sujatha Reddy for the opportunity to participate
in the Sai Health Fair to promote its research program as
diabetes is a major health issue in the South Asian community.
UGA College of Pharmacy students gave information about
medications and also helped in the triage area.
SAI Health Fair arranged for snacks and beverages for all the
participants. Charter Anchor Hospital, Forest Park kindly
provided fruit trays, water bottles, cookies and fruit juice,
while Swapna Restaurant provided delicious lunch for all the
doctors, nurses and volunteers.
SAI Health Fair publicity and coverage was carried by Khabar
magazine; India Abroad, Nripulse.com, wownow.com;
Kavitachhibber.com and Atlantadunia.com. In addition, presidents
of several local Associations also helped to notify their
members about the Health Fair. Photography services were
provided by Narayan Swami and Vinod Devlia, while Ravi Ponangi
and Mahadev Desai did the press coverage.
An elated Dr. Sujatha Reddy thanked owner of Global Mall, Shiv
Aggarwal for providing the accommodation and help in staging the
Health Fair. She also thanked Mustafa Ajmeri and Ravi Ponangi
for providing office space for lunch. She further thanked
supporting sponsors; the team of physicians, nurses, students
and dedicated volunteers who together helped make the Health
Fair a big success. The mission of the SAI Health Fairs is to
create an awareness of the importance of preventive health care
among the public-detection, prevention and cure. Too often you
hear someone say, “if only we had known all of this could have
been prevented.”
SAI Health Fairs are shining beacons of outreach of medical
services and vehicles of social service and welfare for the
disabled, aged, and needy and neglected in the society. Inspired
by Dr.Sujatha Reddy’s compassion, dedication and commitment,
many selfless physicians, Health Care professionals, volunteers,
Community and Faith-based organizations have joined their hands
in successfully staging these Health Fairs. Most of the
physicians, nurses and volunteers on her team have been
participating over and over again.
An ebullient Dr.Gangasani commented,” I am happy GAPI is now
getting involved with more health and education related
charitable activities. GAPI has also opened a GAPI Volunteer
Clinic at the Global Mall, to see uninsured on regular basis. In
these tough economic times I want people to utilize these
opportunities to maintain a healthy life. I would like to thank
Dr.Sujatha Reddy, all the physicians, nurses and volunteers from
bottom of our hearts for taking part in today’s outstanding Sai
Health Fair.
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