BY MAHADEV DESAI

Atlanta, September 2012: Over 600 people attended the twenty ninth SAI Health Fair and Red Cross Blood Drive held at the South Forsyth Middle School in Duluth, Georgia on Saturday, August 25, 2012. The health fair was spearheaded by well-known physician Dr. Sujatha Reddy and was organized as a tribute to the life and legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and to promote his and Dr. Martin Luther King’s philosophies of non-violence, community service and social justice. The event was organized by the Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta (TAMA), sponsored by Madhu Tata, Malleshwar Rao Yarlagadda, Suresh Sajja, Swapna Kommeneni, Kiran Katragadda and Gowtam Gurram and supported by Muthalamada Sneham Charities, physicians, health care professionals and volunteers.

People of diverse nationalities and cultures from all over Atlanta availed themselves of the free consultancy and tests services provided by over 35 dedicated physicians representing 15 specialties, 15 technicians and over 75 service-oriented volunteers, including those from Mercer University, who attended to the various health related concerns of the people. Services provided included blood tests, free EKGs, free glaucoma and vision screenings, preventive cardiology tests, free bone density tests to detect osteoporosis and free Consultancy in Ayurveda, internal medicine, family medicine, cardiology, chiropractic, dentistry, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology,  homeopathy,                                                                                                              OB/Gyn., ophthalmology, orthopedics, surgery, psychiatry and physical therapy. 



Over 135 EKGs were carried out by the Commerce Cardiology Group, Commerce, GA, and Cardiovascular Group, Lawrenceville. Vision and Glaucoma screening tests were done by Dr. Indira Menon. Forty audio screenings were done by Dr. Sridhar Krishnamurthy from Auburn University, Alabama. Bone Mineral Density screening tests were in big demand and more than 31 of the tests were performed by Madhusudhana Reddy and Vijaya Reddy under the supervision of Dr. Sujatha Reddy. These bone density tests helped educate the participants, especially women, about osteoporosis. A bone marrow drive was organized in the Health Fair by AT&T and Oasis.



A majority of the attendees wanted blood tests. Over 150 cost –effective, basic quality comprehensive chemistry profile of blood tests with PSA, and HBA1c were carried out at a nominal fee of $25 per test. The lab work was provided by the American Clinical Labs. Inc. in Stone Mountain. Those who came for blood tests were provided with complimentary breakfast by TAMA. It is noteworthy that the results of the blood work were mailed within a week. The test results helped identify some life threatening conditions, which were immediately notified to the participants. Many lined up to consult Naturopathy and Ayurveda expert Dr. Satish Nair of Gentle Awakening, together with Ms. Cathy Padilla.

The TAMA Organization formed in 1981 is an integral part of the close-knit, vibrant and progressive Telugu community in the Metro Atlanta and beyond. The current dynamic and enthusiastic Board of Trustees and the executive team of Suresh Peddi, Mahesh Pawar, Vijay Kothapalli, Sandhya Yellapragada, Varaprasad Yadana, Vijay Ravilla, Venkat Meesala, Vinay Maddineni, Mallik Medarametlla, Upendra Narra and Vijju Cheluvuru actively participated in the Health Fair.

Another milestone at the health fair this year was the Red Cross Blood Drive. The Red Cross staff had arranged six donation stations and donations began at 10.30 a.m. The blood drive was a huge success and 61 units were collected by the end of the day. The blood donors were served with fruits, juices and protein bars generously donated on behalf of Sathyavati Lavu by Gurram.

Ms. Michelle Clarke, donor recruiter representative for the Red Cross in the Forsyth area location and eight counties north and west of the location, commented, “The Red Cross was invited by TAMA at the Health Fair today for a blood drive. The blood drive is goaled at 48 life-saving units which can assist about 150 patients live one more day in the world.” Lauding TAMA members she said, “I have noticed a high rate of commitment level, approximately 68% first-time donor rates amongst individuals that I have worked with. It is quite amazing that when an individual says that he will donate blood, he keeps his word. We expect to see 63 donors today to go through the process of donating blood. Each unit of blood can save up to three lives.” Right now, Red Cross is on a national appeal. We have gone out in the communities and solicited donors. Our blood banks are at their lowest levels in 15 years. I thank TAMA for embracing the mission and providing life-saving blood units to patients in need.”   

Zafraan Restaurant served a complimentary Indian breakfast and lunch to all the doctors, technicians and volunteers. TAMA President Suresh Peddi and Dr. Sujatha Reddy thanked the South Forsyth Middle School for providing the premises and help in staging the health fair. They also thanked Ms. Michelle Clarke, for coordinating the blood drive and all the blood donors. They further thanked Mercer University’s pharmacy students, supporting sponsors, the team of physicians, nurses, students and dedicated volunteers and blood donors who together helped make the health fair and blood drive a big success.


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