The AKMG Humanitarian Services (AKMG-HS) had yet another year of successful operations. This year five major fund raising initiatives and projects were undertaken. (1) Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, nicknamed “Karita” Relief (2) Kerala Emergency Medical Services (KEMS), (3) Alleppey Medical College LRC Establishment, (4) Maintenance of Trivandrum and Kottayam Medical College LRCs, and (5) AKMG-HS U. S. Charities.

MoU signing ceremony for Calicut LRC

Karita (Katrina and Rita) Relief
Through e-mail campaigns $18,826 was raised. Twenty thousand dollars was donated through LA State Medical Society’s Displaced Physicians Fund (www.lsms.org) amy@lsms.org to re-establish the disrupted medical practices of Louisiana physicians.

KEMS

We are indebted to Dr. George Abraham (gabraham @iiems.org) for establishing KEMS. Thanks to the innovative and able leadership of Dr. Thomas Mukkada (tommukkada @hotmail.com) $37,173.00 was raised through meetings at several target sites over the past year. Mukkada, “Father of the Fund Raising Parties”, achieved the goal through fun-filled social events at the following sites: Mariamma & Thomas Mukkada, Ottumwa, IA on 9/10/05; Moly & Jude Mathew, Chicago, IL on 10/22/05; Meena & Money Joseph, Milwaukee, WI on 11/19/05; Radha & Achu Menon, Cyrac Chemplavil & Dileep Kumar, Las Vegas, NV on 02/25/06; Philomina & Thomas Chakkupurakkal, Detroit, MI on 03/25/06; Shirley & Matthew Pekkakuzhiyil, Huntington IN on 06/03/06; and Rita & Prathap Chandran, Cleveland, OH on 07/08/06.

Alleppey Medical College LRC

Dr. K. C. Joseph’s hard work is paying off. Alleppey LRC will soon be inaugurated. I deposited 65 checks worth $35,801.00 on July 16, 2006 raised by Dr. Joseph for this purpose. Since there are only a few Allepey alumni in the USA, fund raising has been very difficult. We all should pitch in and help Dr. Joseph (kcjoseph13@comcast.net).

Maintenance of Kerala LRCs

This has been an expensive but fulfilling proposition. MD Consult subscription for LRCs of various medical colleges have been renewed for 2006. The LRC’s are operating successfully, are well utilized and greatly appreciated. Local volunteer physicians are helping with the monitoring and day to day operations and oversight. Contact for LRCs Trivandrum, Calicut & Kottayam are Drs. Narendra Kumar (kum73@aol.com), P. K. Kutty (pkkutty@rogers.com), and George Thomas (gthoma2@tampabay.rr.com).

AKMG-HS U. S. Charities

So far, this project has raised $12,000 through personal contributions from Vimla, Prem and Ajay Menon. In 2006 disabled American Veterans received $5,200.00. The rest of the money is allocated to the causes related to the veterans of the USA. I am soliciting your assistance with this fund. Support our brave men and women in uniform. They protect our interests and let us sustain our way of life.

AKMG Silver Jubilee Endowment

Headed by Dr. Narendra Kumar (kum73@aol.com), is an oasis and has been a lifesaver to many an AKMG-HS project. I thank Dr. Narendra Kumar and the endowment for their support of various LRCs.

Request for 2006 Funding

The following organizations have requested funding through AKMG-HS:

Malabar Cancer Institute and Research Center (MCIRC), Mavoor, Calicut, Kerala. MCIRC would benefit poor cancer patients in education, providing primary prevention, early detection, free treatment and rehabilitation of cancer survivors.

Contact
Dr. Hafsath Kaderkutty,
dr_hafsath@hotmail.com.

Mrs. Sudha Jayaram,
Manjakkal House,
Kaipamangalam, P.O.
Chalingad-680 681, Thissur – Dist., Kerala.

Request for help with dialysis for kidney failure. Rupees 1,200 per month.

Latesh C., C. K. House, Mavilayi (P.O.) Via Mundalloor,
Kannur Dist, Kerala-670622.

Chronic renal failure, post transplantation (February 2005).

Help with ongoing treatment.

Yesu Bhavan,
Charity Mount Pain & Palliative Care and Training Centre,
Pullanjimed, Thamarassery, Telephone 9447405601.

Inpatient and outpatient services. Request for support.

American Cancer Society – India initiatives.

Shalini Vallabhan, PhD (svallabhan@cancer.org).

World India Diabetes Foundation, supported by the Section of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Mayo Clinic, Sree Nair, MD, PhD (nair@mayo.edu) President. Prem Menon, MD, Chairman of the Board (drmenon@drmenon.com).

Jeevodaya Charitable Society www.jjeevodaya.co.in email jeevodaya@yahoo.com 13-Penta Estate 1st Floor, Janata, Pilarivattom, Cochin-681 025 Telephone 011-91-484-4054310, 2341375 Chacko Varghese, President. Serving women, children and senior citizens educational, medical and hospice services.

Volunteer doctors needed for Kerala (Kottayam) Health Screenings. If interested, please contact Dr. Prathap Chandran, AKMG President.

Calicut Medical College Golden Jubilee Fund

Dr. P. V. Ramachandran (pvramachandran@yahoo.com), no relation to the legendary CKR, Principal Calicut Medical College called me to seek my help in contacting Calicut Alumni to help with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the college. The Coordinators in Kerala are Dr. C. K. Ramachandran (CKR) and Dr. Ashokan Nambiar.

The Coordinators in North America are Karuvath Enu, MD, Karunakaran Kutty, MD, Manikoth Kurup, MD and C. V. Sreenivasan, MD. We need help from the younger generation of Calicut alumni. They have been noticeably inactive and quiet. Please contribute enthusiastically and wholeheartedly to the CMC Golden Jubilee initiatives. Please help make this landmark event a memorable one.

Your contributions are requested…

Please contribute generously to AKMG-HS. Remember your contributions are tax-free. Thank you for your support.

AKMG Humanitarian Services Board

Prem Menon, MD, Chair
Ravindra Nathan, MD
Prathap Chandren, MD
P. C. Punnen, MD
Narendra Kumar, MD
K. P. Ravikrishnan, MD
Parvathi Mohan, MD
Karunakaran Kutty, MD
Abdul Karim, MD

AKMG-HS Tax Exemption No. 32-0051235