The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin is set to launch an initiative with Bitcare, “AAPI Blood Donation and Stem Cell Drive” on August 15 onwards in as many as 75 cities, Dr Anupama Gotimukula, Indian American president of AAPI, announced on July 26. The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin is the largest ethnic organization in the United States. It represents nearly 1,00,000 Indian American physicians.
The campaign will be launched in response to the national need for blood, especially when the Covid-19 pandemic is causing widespread damage around the world.
The launch event will be held on August 7.
“I want to thank the dozens of AAPI chapters and in cities and towns across the United States, who have confirmed and have started planning to organize the event in several states,” Meher Medavram, chair of AAPI’s Blood Donation Initiative, was quoted as saying.
Dr Ravi Kolli, the president-elect of AAPI, a board-certified psychiatrist with Southwestern Pennsylvania Human Services, urged “potential blood donors to donate blood to help ensure lifesaving blood products are available for patients. Your donation is needed now to prevent delays in inpatient care. Help overcome the severe blood shortage.”
Gotimukula, who wants to make AAPI a premium healthcare leader, said: “As we all know, our blood banks are deprived of products, and another wave of COVID is rapidly increasing.”
AAPI, which was founded in 1982, represents a group of more than 80,000 practising physicians in the United States.
“In addition, it also serves as a platform for more than 40,000 medical students, residents and fellows of Indian origin in this country. The AAPI YPS/MSRF (Young Physicians Section/Medical Students, Residents and Fellows Section) runs under the main AAPI umbrella to give representation to them. 1 in every 7 people in the USA is touched by the care of a physician of Indian origin at any given time,” AAP’s website says.
“AAPI also has a Charitable Foundation (AAPI-CF) that spearheads free clinics and health fairs in India. To date, more than 19 such clinics are being actively run in various states of India under the AAPI flagship,” the website says, adding, “Every year, this mammoth cohort of physicians and physicians-to-be get together in a grand extravaganza The Annual AAPI Convention, a beautiful blend of professional programs with cutting-edge CME along with a dash of color in the form of social events and exhibits featuring esteemed invitees from the United States and India.”
