By Dr. Iqbal Zafar Hamid
President APPNA
41st annual APPNA Summer convention was held from July 4-July 8, 2018 at Hilton Anatole Dallas, Texas. It was the largest annual summer convention in the history of APPNA with respect to attendance, activities and media coverage.
The theme of the year was "Coming Together" with emphasis on EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE and ADVOCACY. The president of APPNA, Dr. Iqbal Zafar Hamid and Chair of Convention Dr. Dawood Nasir looked after all the arrangements.
About 5000 physicians and their families attended this convention from all around the world. The important events that were unique to this summer convention were
Youth Convention, APPNA Mobile health clinic project, Young Physician's seminar, Social forum on Child abuse, APPNA University and multiple philanthropic projects.
The newly appointed Ambassador of Pakistan to USA Ambassador Ali Jahangir Siddiqi also attended the convention along with Counsel General Aisha Farooqi.
YOUTH CONVENTION in collaboration with Pakistan Embassy spread over 3 days included several healthy activities, competitions and discussions to provide our youth a platform that they can own and benefit from it. APPNA Idol, Debate, Basketball, Chess, Trivia competitions, interactive discussions and workshops with leaders from faith, social and political backgrounds were among several of the programs.
Inauguration of APPNA MOBILE HEALTH CLINICS as a joint collaboration of ICNA Dallas and APPNA to provide health services in DFW area for patients who lack health insurance or the means to reach their physician on time. APPNA plans to launch similar mobile health units in each of the cities of USA where APPNA chapter is active. Similar mobile health clinics have been launched in MirpurKhas, Sindh in collaboration of Mohammad Medical College where more than 10,000 patients of the most rural area are treated in less than 4 months. We have plans to launch these mobile health clinics in different cities of Pakistan with ground partners in Pakistan who will manage and operate these clinics. So far 10 plus mobile health clinics have already been ordered which will join the fleet in the coming months.
APPNA UNIVERSITY was the center of discussion as APPNA plans to launch it in one of the biggest cities in US. Envisioned by APPNA, this university will establish legacy for the generations of Pakistani to come and their help and support in this matter is greatly
appreciated. This university will provide ivy League standard education to public without any discrimination and bias.
SOCIAL FORUM: A very successful Social Forum was organized with the joint efforts of Alumni and APPNA
featuring "Child Abuse in Pakistan: Elephant in the room. Expert panel consisted of experts and activists from Pakistan and USA. Musarrat Misbah, Anwar Iqbal, Frieha Altaf, Anglene Malik and Aneeta Afzal were among many. Discussion mainly consisted of the ground facts of child abuse, role that APPNA and activists can play by working together to bring awareness, help train first responders to deal with trauma, define media's role in child abuse and how educators can be involved to make a curriculum change for prevention and with legislators to identify and punish these offenders.
FASHION SHOW AND GRAND BAZAAR The culture of Pakistan was showcased through the Fashion show where models walked down the aisle wearing top fashion designers from Pakistan and their masterpieces. The 5 days long bazaar hosted more than 250 vendors who displayed their collections, objectives and creations that helped promote the local and Pakistani designers and organizations in sending out their message to the world through APPNA platform.
ADVOCACY: Advocacy committee workshop highlighted and provided a platform for Pakistani American citizens to discuss and get involved in the main stream political flow that is critical in this day and age for American Muslims. The Prominent American Muslim Leaders currently involved in mainstream politics attended this workshop. Newly appointed Ambassador Ali Jahangir Siddiqi was a speaker as well on this forum.
RESA Committee organized a comprehensive educational program relevant to today's healthcare presented by world class speakers and experts from all over US. Topics included opioid epidemic, sleep apnea, obesity, hepatitis, pain medicine, cosmetic dermatology and a poster competition. Awards were given for excellence in Research, Education and Community Affairs to the several leaders in their field.
PHILANTHROPY through service was exemplified by raising funds through providing salon and beauty services by Depilex' s Musarrat Misbah, her associates and local salon owners who devoted their time and skills throughout the convention. All proceedings went to Smile Again foundation that rehabilitates and facilitate life-changing treatments to acid and kerosene burn victims in Pakistan. A session of OBAT Helpers with APPNA was well attended that focused on Rohingya relief as well as Displaced Pakistanis in Bangladesh camps.
BANQUETS AND ENTERTAINMENT Last but not the least highly tasteful and entertaining banquet dinners followed by Musical evenings were organized to entertain the guests after long day of scholarly, social, academic and philanthropic activities. Nabeel Shaukat Ali, Atif Aslam, Aima Baig, Mikka Singh and Neyha Kakkar were among the artists who performed and made the evenings memorable.
Media partnership with multiple TV and Radio channels in North America as well as special MOU with HUM TV networks helped propagate APPNA's message.
SIUT: A team of SIUT led by Dr. Sajid Sultan and Dr. Altaf Hashmi attended the convention with a message and invitation from Dr. Adeeb Rizvi for APPNA to hold its annual winter convention at SIUT in December. This Global Healthcare summit will be held in Pakistan in Lahore and Karachi from 18-22 December. This international level medical conference will be open to all the physicians in Pakistan to help transfer skills and knowledge.
