Dr. Agamah, IHDN-USA President, awarded the Humanitarian Award
The State
Journal-Register, Springfield, Illinois [Saturday,
May 17, 2003]
Local doctor honored
A local
doctor has received the HUMANITARIAN AWARD from the ILLINOIS STATE
MEDICAL SOCIETY ALLIANCE.
DR. EDEM
AGAMAH, a
hematologist/oncologist who has a practice at the Central Illinois Hematology
and Oncology Center, was given the award for community service that betters the
lives and health of individuals and the world. The award is given for service
either in the workplace or in a volunteer setting.
"I
was surprised. I was quite surprised. I didn't know that I was nominated at
all," said Agamah, who also is clinical assistant professor in the department of
internal medicine at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.
Agamah is
president of the INTERNATIONAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT NETWORK, a medical
missions nonprofit organization based in Springfield. By using a network of
volunteers, IHDN helps poor villages in developing countries by giving them
medical and public health knowledge and faith in God.
A
major aspect of IHDN is its medical missions to Ghana, the next one to be taken
in August with 14 volunteers. Medical students also will participate.
"I
appreciate the support of the community. We have several people interested in
what we're doing, and we appreciate that. This award is for all the people
involved," said Agamah.
Agamah's
strength as a humanitarian is his dedication to helping other people and a
strong sense of faith, said BARBARA HENNESSY, president of the Sangamon
County Medical Society Alliance, who has known Agamah for the past two to three
years.
"He
has a very strong faith that sustains him, and he has high expectations for
himself and others."
Agamah will
receive the Sangamon County humanitarian award May 28.
"We're just
very proud of the work he has done internationally and locally," Hennessy said.
Among other
activities, Agamah volunteers in a cancer prevention outreach program in
Springfield. He also helps conduct outpatient clinics at Carlinville Area
Hospital, St. Vincent Memorial Hospital in Taylorville and Passavant Area
Hospital in Jacksonville.
"It's an
extension of our practice, a community outreach in central Illinois. We go and
see patients who cannot travel to Springfield because either they are old or
they don't have transportation," said Agamah, who with his wife, JUNE,
has three daughters, SARAH, RUTH and MIRIAM.
Monetary donations to help with medicine and supplies for the upcoming missions trip to Ghana may be mailed to IHDN, P.O. Box 7488, Springfield, IL 62791-7488.