Why do we need a separate Zonal Association when we have so many state branches and speciality associations?

To understand this we need to go into the background. Ourfirst encounter with South zone Conference dates back to the Bangalore Conference conducted in a Hotel in 1979. It was a two day affair and a big event. Thanks to senior ENT surgeons from South, the conferences were regularly conducted and we were meeting quite regularly at different places - Chennai, Bangalore, Vijayawada, Nellore, Ooty, Trichur and Madurai to name a few.

Since the South zone Conference at Visakhapatnam a few of the senior members regularly keeping in touch with the activities realized the need for an organization to strengthen ENT Fraternity of South, unite them so that we can get our due recognition in academic and organizational fronts. It has also become necessary to coordinate the events in the 4 states and regularly have one annual meet so that it will create a platform for the South Indian Otolaryngologists to present their achievements and clinical work. We need to look into larger perspective and be heard at right forums at right times about the right matters so that our younger colleagues are recognized for their worth.

So an idea was sown at Visakhapatnam and was realized at Pondicherry South zone Conference where a meeting of the official representatives of the office bearers of all 4 state AOI Branches ie Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamilnadu and Pondicherry was called for. During the conference these state office bearers discussed various issues and decided to have an executive Committee comprising of Presidents and Secretaries of the 4 state associations. Steering Committee comprising of 2 senior members of each state nominated by the State associations with Dr. Mohan Kameswaran as the Chairman was also formed to oversee the regular functioning of the new Association. The office for the present term will be located at Chennai with Dr.Anand Kumar as the Treasurer and Dr. Sadasivan as the Secretary General. The President and secretary of the state association which will conduct the South zone Conference will be the President and the Secretary for the South zone for that particular year.

The General body meeting conducted at the venue of the South zone conference at Pondicherry discussed the issues threadbare. Two orations by MERF and BENT were announced by Dr.Mohan kameswaran and Dr.Shankar Medikeri and were accepted. Dr.Dwaraknath Reddy announced a goldmedal for the Postgraduates and Dr. Kishore Chandra Prasad announced a Goldmedal for the annual quiz programme. We expect more donors come forward and announce orations and goldmedals for the South zone Conference.

The Constitution of the AOI Southzone is also being uploaded into the website.