Indian-American doctors spread health message at India Day parade

In their efforts to spread the message of healthy living for all, leaders of the American Association of Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI) joined the India Day Parade here last week.

As the colourfully decorated float of AAPI, one of the largest ethnic organisations representing over 100,000 Indian origin physicians, led by its president Ravi Jahagirdar rolled down New York's Madison Avenue crowds greeted it with an applause.

According to an AAPI media release, a record number of wellwishers, both Indian Americans and Americans thronged the sidewalks multilevel deep, cheering jubilantly as the floats flashed the rich heritage of India and paid tribute to the rise of India as a world power.

A host of other AAPI leaders, including Seema Jain, president-elect, Ami Shah, AAPI regional director for New York area, Krishan Kumar, board of trustee member, along with Sanjay Jain president of Federation of NY/NJ, Udita Jahagirdar and Dr. Joseph Chalil were present.

They had flown into New York from different parts of the country to be part of the largest India Day Parade organized by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA).

Rama Raju, President and CEO of New York City Health and Hospital Corporation had invited the AAPI leaders to the New York City Hall for a special event honouring the contributions by AAPI members across US.

"I want to convey our greetings to all the people of Indian origin, especially to over two million Indian Americans across the United States, who take pride in making India stand tall in the world," Jahagirdar said.

AAPI a nonprofit service organization was founded with the objective of promoting professional solidarity in the pursuit of excellence in patient care, teaching and research. AAPI brings distinctive contributions from India to American medicine.

AAPI is also active in educating the legislators on matters of healthcare delivery and allied challenges, as it shares the goal of providing universal high quality healthcare at reasonable cost to the citizens of USA and in India.