Humanitarian Services- Blog #3
Several of my past blogs have been devoted to pay tribute to the people who have devoted their entire life providing humanitarian services. There may be thousands of such people, however my concentration will be only on the people I have known, or heard about, providing such services for a number of years. I intend to cover only those activities which could help hundreds or thousands of people who may not have known about these individuals or services provided by them.
In the 1st Humanitarian Services blog I covered services provided by Mr. Ramesh Shah and his wife Dr. Jayaben Shah. The 2nd blog was devoted to the services provided by Dr. N.K. Shah of London, UK. In this blog I will cover services provided, not by only one individual but, by a group of dedicated doctors who have been providing much needed care for hundreds of people every year.
In the beginning years this service offered by the group was known as “Health Fair”. It is currently known as “Health Awareness Expo”. This service started in the 1980’s. Please forgive me if, by mistake, I inadvertently omit any names of doctors or volunteers who participated in this service during the years it has been in operation. I could not get the full list of all the members who originated this service. Some of the physicians involved right from the beginning years are: Dr. Kirit Dharia (present chairman), Dr. Chandravadan C. Shah, Dr. Ashwin Pandya, Dr. Anjuben Pandya, Dr. Thakor Rana, and Dr. Bhupendra Tolia.
This year the Expo is going to be held on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the address noted at the bottom of this article. Some of the tests conducted on site will be Blood Tests (8 hours prior fasting required), Mammograms (by prior telephone appointments only. Call Jyotindra Patel at 718-591-1398 for appointment), Eye Related Tests and Blood Pressure Readings. Various Seminars also will be conducted on subjects such as Hyper Tension & Heart Attack, Diabetes & Obesity, and Arthritis & Exercise.
You can also get information on subjects such as Cardiology, OB/GYN, Internal Medicine, Orthopedics, Oral Cancer, Podiatry, Surgery, Urology, Nutrition, Dentistry, Gastroenterology, Pulmonary, Allergy, Respiratory Therapy, Colorectal Screening, Yoga, Social Services, Health Insurance, Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Physical Therapy, Pain Management and Prostate Cancer Screening. All the above services are provided free of charge. We should be thankful to all the physicians and management staff providing such valuable services year after year.
Present Health Committee Members include:
1. Dr. Kirit Dharia- Chairman (Surgeon)
2. Dr. Sunil Patel (Internist)
3. Dr. Chandravadan C Shah - Moderator of Seminars (Cardiologist)
4. Dr. Shyam Rao (E.R. Physician)
5. Dr. Jyoti Gandhi (Pediatrician)
6. Mr. R. D. Patel
7. Dr. Ashwin Pandya (psychiatrist)
8. Miss Jagruti Patel
9. Mr. Jyotindra Patel
10. Mr. Manikant Patel
11. Dr. Nilesh Soni (Physical Therapy)
12. Mr. Jatin Upadhyaya
I would also like to salute many Sponsors who have borne the costs of these Expos. Without their help this endeavor would not be possible:
1. New York Hospital of Queens
2. North Shore University Hospital at Forest Hills
3. American Italian Cancer Foundation
4. American Indian Dental Association
5. Enzo Clinical Labs
6. Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation
Can you imagine the impact it would have in the well being of people if other physicians in other cities started such operation to help out everyone who needed their help? Let us hope that the newly graduated and senior physicians join in starting such volunteer service in each and every city. This would help all of those who have neglected to get tested for medical care and also those who could not get such medical help because they could not afford medical insurance.
If you desire to start such humanitarian service, I am certain that above mentioned dedicated doctors may be able to guide you in the right direction. Do not procrastinate. Pick out any area you can provide services in, and get the full satisfaction in providing services to a mankind.
My future blogs will cover the humanitarian services provided by the following individuals. They are not listed in any particular order.
1. Dr. Ashwin Pandya and his deceased wife Dr. Anjuben Pandya
2. Dr. Rajanibhai Shah who provided funds and services to build a Jain Temple and a community facility in Queens, NY (one of the five boroughs of New York City).
3. Mr. U.N. Mehta, founder of world famous “Torrent Pharmaceuticals” and various other industries inAhmadabad, India. Mr. U.N. Mehta passed away in 1998, but his wife Sardaben, son Sudhirbhai and the other family members have continued tremendous contributions in providing humanitarian services.
If you know about other such individuals please let me know. Please make sure your introduction is very short. My telephone number is 516-705-8758. Address of this blog is nickshahblog.blogspot.com and my email address is nshah@optonline.net
Address where Health Expo will take place: Gujrati Samaj of New York, 173-15 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows, NY 11365. For further information call 718-713-2170.
