<p>The former International president of the Nobel Peace Prize winning organisation, Doctors Without Borders / Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Dr Unni Karunakara, is on a cycle expedition from Kashmir to Thiruvananthapuram to cover 5,000 kilometres across 10 states.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking to media persons, Dr Unni said, “I love to cycle. As a medical intern at Kasturba Hospital in 1988, I travelled on bike from Delhi to Leh and Srinagar to Delhi. I dreamt, one day, to ride the entire length of India. Twenty-five years later, I am fulfilling this dream.”<br /><br />He will pass through 10 states, make 65 stops, speak at 10 medical colleges on health, healthcare, and humanitarian action, have film screenings and ride with cycle groups. In Bangalore, Canadian Olympian Helen Upperton will accompany him.<br /><br />Dr Unni who graduated from KMC, Manipal, 25 years ago arrived in Manipal on Friday for the Annual Alumni meet and to receive the distinguished alumnus award. He kick-started his expedition on October 12, 2013 and hopes to complete the entire distance on February 1, 2014.<br /><br />After graduating from Manipal, Dr Unni went to US to study public health and then worked in international health for 18 years. During the last three of those years, he held the position of International President of MSF. Dr Unni Karunakara did not conceal his disappointment over the poor health-care delivery system prevalant in India even now.<br /><br /> “Despite being among the best countries producing generic medicines, we still do not provide health care the way it should be done,” he lamented.<br /><br /></p>
<p>The former International president of the Nobel Peace Prize winning organisation, Doctors Without Borders / Medicins Sans Frontieres (MSF), Dr Unni Karunakara, is on a cycle expedition from Kashmir to Thiruvananthapuram to cover 5,000 kilometres across 10 states.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Speaking to media persons, Dr Unni said, “I love to cycle. As a medical intern at Kasturba Hospital in 1988, I travelled on bike from Delhi to Leh and Srinagar to Delhi. I dreamt, one day, to ride the entire length of India. Twenty-five years later, I am fulfilling this dream.”<br /><br />He will pass through 10 states, make 65 stops, speak at 10 medical colleges on health, healthcare, and humanitarian action, have film screenings and ride with cycle groups. In Bangalore, Canadian Olympian Helen Upperton will accompany him.<br /><br />Dr Unni who graduated from KMC, Manipal, 25 years ago arrived in Manipal on Friday for the Annual Alumni meet and to receive the distinguished alumnus award. He kick-started his expedition on October 12, 2013 and hopes to complete the entire distance on February 1, 2014.<br /><br />After graduating from Manipal, Dr Unni went to US to study public health and then worked in international health for 18 years. During the last three of those years, he held the position of International President of MSF. Dr Unni Karunakara did not conceal his disappointment over the poor health-care delivery system prevalant in India even now.<br /><br /> “Despite being among the best countries producing generic medicines, we still do not provide health care the way it should be done,” he lamented.<br /><br /></p>
