News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know T he American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) representatives, including its President, Dr. Amit Chakrabarty, attended the Indian Medical Association Convention in Ahmedabad recently, and also met with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhu- pendra Rajnikant Patel. The AAPI delegation presented a mem- orandum addressing critical healthcare challenges, including “the urgent need to expand postgraduate training slots in emergency medicine and the importance of structured training programs for first responders and EMTs,” a priority strongly advocated by Dr. Lokesh Edara, former Chair of the AAPI Board of Trustees. Dr. Hetal Gor, AAPI Chairwoman, shared AAPI’s mission and objectives in Gujarati, emphasizing the organization’s dedication to enhancing healthcare across India. “Our vision is to collaborate, in- novate, and uplift the standards of care in every community we touch,” she said. The Chief Minister expressed his appreciation and requested that the IMA, in collabo- ration with AAPI, prepare and submit a formal memorandum to his office for further action. The AAPI delegation also visited the Statue of Unity that was built to honor the legacy of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Iron Man of India. Dr. Chakrabarty and others in the delegation emphasized unity as a cornerstone of future endeavors. Unity, the delegation stressed, remains AAPI’s “greatest power.” It is the force that “gives us credibility in the halls of power, amplifies our service to patients and com- munities, and ensures that AAPI continues to rise as a beacon of excellence, dignity, and heritage.” During the IMA Convention, the AAPI delegation met the Chief Minister of Guja- rat as well as drafted a joint memorandum with IMA leadership., The AAPI delegation, in its meeting with the IMA leadership, jointly drafted a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between AAPI and IMA. “This meeting was not just about agreements—it was about building bridges, fostering trust, and envisioning a future of collaboration,” said Dr. Chakrabarty. AAPI members actively participated in the conference, delivering lectures and engaging in exchange of ideas.. Indian American Physicians Attend Indian Medical Association Convention By a StaffWriter Senior UN Official Siddharth Chatterjee To Address House Of Lords On International Day For A World Without Childhood Blindness T he House of Lords will host a landmark global commemoration of the International Day for a WorldWithout Childhood Blindness on January 31, 2026. This marks 49 years of “transformative, on- ground impact by the Eye Foundation of America (EFA) for children since 1977—largely across India and Africa,” a Jan. 21, press release from Eye Foundation of America (EFA) said. The keynote address at the event will be delivered by United Nations Resident Coordinator in China Sid- dharth Chatterjee. The Resident Coordinator (RC) plays a central role in making possible the coordination of UN operational activities for development at the country level in support to national priorities and capacity building. Chatterjee reports to the Secretary-General, and ensures effective advocacy of the core values, stan- dards, principles, and activities of the UN system. “A world without childhood blindness is not an aspiration—it is an achievable global development goal. When we protect a child’s sight, we protect education, dignity, and the future of nations,” Chatterjee said in a statement. “His participation reflects the growing global con- sensus that vision is foundational to learning, human capital formation, and inclusive growth,” EFA said. Hosted at the House of Lords, the event plans to bring together senior leaders from the United Nations system, global philanthropy, Rotary and Lions leadership, dip- lomats, policymakers, clinicians, CSR heads, and youth champions—all committed to ending preventable childhood blindness worldwide. Chatterjee’s address will highlight the urgency of integrated public health action, scalable partnerships, and outcomes-driven investment—calling for govern- ments, multilaterals, and the private sector to accelerate proven models that protect sight early in life, the press release said. The EFA said it has led “pioneering, community-root- ed programs—saving and restoring sight for millions of children through neonatal screening, pediatric eye care, capacity building, and systems strengthening,” over the last nearly 5 decades. It added that EFA’s work “has demonstrated that early detection and timely interven- tion can change the trajectory of a child’s life—and a nation’s future.” The January 31 commemoration also reinforces a global call to action: institutionalize childhood blind- ness prevention within national health systems and CSR frameworks, and rally the world toward a future where no child is needlessly blind, the EFA said. The International Day for aWorldWithout Childhood Blindness is observed on January 31, advocating for govern- ments, multilaterals, civil society, and the private sector to advance solutions that eliminate preventable child- hood blindness and secure every child’s right to sight. By a StaffWriter PHOTO:CHINA.UN.ORG Siddharth Chatterjee PHOTOS:COURTESY AAPI Scenes from the recent Indian Medical Association Convention held in Ahmedabad and attended by, among others, a delegation from the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI). During the IMA Convention, the AAPI delegation met the Chief Minister of Gujarat as well as drafted a joint memorandum with IMA leadership. Diaspora News India Times (January 24, 2026- January 30, 2026) January 30, 2026 27