Indian origin physician, Dr. Purvi Parikh, a pediatric allergist and immunologist for adults and children had recently traveled to Zambia as part of the United Nations Foundation’s vaccine initiative Shot@life. She is a passionate advocate for the public health committed to good health care policy.
She is a clinical instructor of medicine and pediatrics at NYU-Langone Medical Center, who practices at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Murray Hill. Dr. Parikh administers vaccinations daily and often has to fight with passionate vaccination skeptics about its benefits.
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Dr. Parikh cites her recent experience in Zambia to advocate for vaccinations. The Simonga Clinic works in the midst of the major problems to deliver services to the thousands within its purview and is dealing with labor and delivery amid power outages, no anesthesia, and of course, load shedding where power can go out for extended periods and solar power keeps vaccines from expiring.
Because of the dedication of those serving and those receiving the services, the clinic manages to reach the 98 percent of its vaccination rates! “That’s because of the motivation of mothers who have seen measles wipe out the children of entire villages,” Dr. Parikh says.
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“They have seen the ravages of preventable diseases like pneumonia or the flu. Inoculation is a gift for them and even for new vaccines, there’s barely any skepticism. God bless Martin Cooper, the inventor of cell phone technology, which can transcend socioeconomic classes, cultures, phone lines, power lines and geography and keep the world connected,” Dr. Parikh says.
“It strikes me that things we take for granted such as going to school, studying, playing with our classmates, all are in jeopardy for these kids without their vaccines,” observes Dr. Parikh.
The experience in Zambia has made Dr. Parikh, president of the New York Allergy and Asthma Society, to urge to the Americans to get behind Shot@Life (www.shotatlife.org) and donate for it this holiday season.
Dr. Parikh is the national spokesperson for the non-profit organisation Allergy and Asthma Network and on the health and public policy committee of the American College of Physicians. She has published many scientific journals and presented research at the national and international meetings. Dr. Parikh sits on the advocacy council for the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
By Premji
