Cheema Communications

The Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North American or APPNA mobilized its members throughout the U.S. and Canada to offer a free clinic day for general community members on November 19, 2011. This was another great achievement for APPNA, following APPNA president Dr. Manzoor Tariq's Iftar dinner with President Obama, in highlighting positive achievements of Pakistani physicians. Dubbed as "APPNA CARES - Clinic Day", the free clinic day had a thrust on preventative aspects of medical care. APPNA internists, pediatricians, specialists, and dentists throughout the United States and some parts of Canada organized free blood pressure screenings, glucose check-ups, height and weight analysis, and educational programs on ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  Advanced diagnostic testing, such as mammograms and cardiac ultr asound, were offered in some cities. The free clinic offered insights to community members about life threatening nature of flu and the importance of flu vaccination to prevent influenza. This information is particularly lacking in many members of the immigrant community, who benefitted by attending the free clinic day, where approximately 2,000 free flu shots were administered.

Dr. Imtiaz Arain, chairman of the APPNA Free Clinics, believes that the success of “APPNA CARES” would serve as an impetus to APPNA chapters across the country to establish their own regular free clinics. APPNA has established a successful free clinic in West Mont, IL, which offers guidelines to APPNA chapters in achieveing this goal. Along with Dr. Imtiaz Arain, the APPNA CARES Clinic Day was coordinated by Dr. Mujtaba Qazi and Dr. Asaf Qadeer, co-chairs of t he APPNA Free Clinic Committee; and Dr. Aamir Jamal who serves on the APPNA Chapter Coordination Com mittee.

Dr. Manzoor Tariq

President: Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America