Aga Khan Hospital receives US Gold Seal Accreditation
Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam has received the third Gold Standard re-accreditation of Joint Commission International (JCI) USA as a remarkable symbol of quality, safety and patient centred care.
It attained the status 29th July this year and it remains the first and only hospital in Tanzania to have achieved that.
A statement that was availed to the media in Dar es Salaam recently, it stated that the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation is the most objective and prestigious international certification in the field of healthcare that is considered the ‘gold standard’ of quality and is a confirmation of the compliance of a medical organization with internationally accepted medical standards.
The statement further reads that it is a matter of immense pride and happiness that the Tanzanian institution was able to achieve the unique distinction.
In essence, the Aga Khan Health Service, Tanzania operates an integrated healthcare system across the country and has been engaged in providing quality health care for over 90 years in uplifting quality of health care through its wide range of service.
During the re-accreditation process, the hospital was evaluated by international surveyors, delving into more than one thousand measurable elements, covering all aspects of healthcare delivery that included efficiency of procedures and appropriateness in documentation of patients’ records.
It also highlighted patients’ engagement and education, infection control, medication management, physician practice, safety and maintenance, including equipment and disaster preparedness.
In their recommendation, tmembers noted that the re-accreditation is a clear demonstration of joint efforts, inclination and commitment by the team at the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam for an outstanding goal to provide international quality standard, safety and patient centred care at home.
Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam (AKH-Dar)is part of Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) established in 1964 to provide general medical services, specialist clinics and state of the art diagnostic services in the country.
In the course, it has grown in recent years, expanding its services and upgrading its facilities. The expansion programme has emphasised the introduction of high-quality, high-technology laboratory, medicine, and radiology services, which have enhanced the capability of AKH-Dar to provide referral services as part of the AKHS international referral system, with links to the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi and the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
With community health programmes in large geographical areas in Central and South Asia, as well as East Africa, and more than 200 health facilities, including nine hospitals, the AKHS is one of the most comprehensive private not-for-profit health care systems in the developing world.
AKHS has facilities in Kenya and Tanzania that provide care to over 800,000 patients annually in both rural and urban areas, and preventive and curative contexts. Its hospitals and health centres provide an increasingly comprehensive range of high-quality clinical services.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
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AGAKHAN HEALTH SERVICES
Safety first: Prince Aly Khan Hospital shuts in-patient service after declared unsafe
Mumbai News
Published on Aug 21, 2022 11:52 PM IST
The 77-year-old hospital wrote to its doctors saying that keeping in mind the health and safety of the patients, staff, and all stakeholders, the board has decided to halt the inpatient admissions and suspend surgeries with immediate effect
Mumbai: The iconic Prince Aly Khan Hospital (PAKH) in Byculla has decided to shut its in-patient admissions and surgeries after an independent structural audit found that the main building was unsafe for occupancy.
The 77-year-old hospital wrote to its doctors saying that keeping in mind the health and safety of the patients, staff, and all stakeholders, the board has decided to halt the inpatient admissions and suspend surgeries with immediate effect.
Amin Manekia, chairman of PAKH said they got the structural audit report on August 19, and the board met on August 20 morning. “I am still trying to wrap my head around the development. We did all we could do by carrying out regular repairs, maintenance etc. We had regular structural audits. Last year’s structural audit showed significant deterioration after which we carried out repair works for eight-nine months,” he said.
Manekia, who was born at the hospital and stayed in the hospital premises until a few years back, said recently, a part of the ceiling in the X-ray room came off and they consulted the BMC after which a detailed structural audit was carried out. He said the report, which puts the building in C-1 category (dilapidated), will be submitted to the BMC on August 22 while they start the second round of structural audit. “The C-1 category implies the building needs to be demolished or rebuilt. It is too early to say as we go ahead with the second audit. Hopefully, we will find a viable solution. For us, our patients’ and staff’s safety is our topmost priority and will not be compromised at any cost. We, therefore, decided to shut the in-patient service with immediate effect as soon as the first audit report came. We had to take the tough decision,” said Manekia.
Doctors attached to the hospital said the news of the hospital shutting the in-patient service came as a shock as they never thought it was in such dilapidated condition.
“We heard that a part of the ceiling in the X-ray room had come off recently after which they went for an independent structural audit as per the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) directives. We received an email from the board on April 20 about the temporary shutdown. It was abrupt,” said a senior doctor from the hospital. Among the well-known doctors attached to the hospital are- eminent surgical oncologist Dr Sultan Pradhan, Dr Anil D’Cruz, former director of Tata Memorial Hospital, and well-known surgical oncologist, Dr Gustad Daver, a renowned vascular surgeon.
The 154-bed hospital had started as a 16-bed nursing home in 1945 and during the Covid-19 pandemic, it treated more than 3000 Covid-19 patients. At present, the hospital has 65-70 admitted patients. “We spoke to all our doctors for all the patients who are admitted with us right now. We have an average hospital stay of 4-5 days. Most of our patients will get discharged in the next few days. The critical patients will be taken care of with adequate care,” said Manekia.
The hospital annually sees over 170,000 outpatients and 9,000 in-patients.
Earlier in the year, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) had announced the expansion plan for PAKH. The 350-bed hospital, which is coming up opposite PAKH’s current location, is presently in the planning stage and will take 4-5 years for completion.
“We thought at least till then the main building will be there with us. The structural audit’s development has come as a complete shock for all of us. We had recently inaugurated our transit building that houses the outdoor patient services and a brand-new maternity wing. The OPD services will be on. Meantime, for inpatients, we have a good rapport with neighbouring hospitals where the patients will be referred,” said Manekia.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/m ... 24563.html
Published on Aug 21, 2022 11:52 PM IST
The 77-year-old hospital wrote to its doctors saying that keeping in mind the health and safety of the patients, staff, and all stakeholders, the board has decided to halt the inpatient admissions and suspend surgeries with immediate effect
Mumbai: The iconic Prince Aly Khan Hospital (PAKH) in Byculla has decided to shut its in-patient admissions and surgeries after an independent structural audit found that the main building was unsafe for occupancy.
The 77-year-old hospital wrote to its doctors saying that keeping in mind the health and safety of the patients, staff, and all stakeholders, the board has decided to halt the inpatient admissions and suspend surgeries with immediate effect.
Amin Manekia, chairman of PAKH said they got the structural audit report on August 19, and the board met on August 20 morning. “I am still trying to wrap my head around the development. We did all we could do by carrying out regular repairs, maintenance etc. We had regular structural audits. Last year’s structural audit showed significant deterioration after which we carried out repair works for eight-nine months,” he said.
Manekia, who was born at the hospital and stayed in the hospital premises until a few years back, said recently, a part of the ceiling in the X-ray room came off and they consulted the BMC after which a detailed structural audit was carried out. He said the report, which puts the building in C-1 category (dilapidated), will be submitted to the BMC on August 22 while they start the second round of structural audit. “The C-1 category implies the building needs to be demolished or rebuilt. It is too early to say as we go ahead with the second audit. Hopefully, we will find a viable solution. For us, our patients’ and staff’s safety is our topmost priority and will not be compromised at any cost. We, therefore, decided to shut the in-patient service with immediate effect as soon as the first audit report came. We had to take the tough decision,” said Manekia.
Doctors attached to the hospital said the news of the hospital shutting the in-patient service came as a shock as they never thought it was in such dilapidated condition.
“We heard that a part of the ceiling in the X-ray room had come off recently after which they went for an independent structural audit as per the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) directives. We received an email from the board on April 20 about the temporary shutdown. It was abrupt,” said a senior doctor from the hospital. Among the well-known doctors attached to the hospital are- eminent surgical oncologist Dr Sultan Pradhan, Dr Anil D’Cruz, former director of Tata Memorial Hospital, and well-known surgical oncologist, Dr Gustad Daver, a renowned vascular surgeon.
The 154-bed hospital had started as a 16-bed nursing home in 1945 and during the Covid-19 pandemic, it treated more than 3000 Covid-19 patients. At present, the hospital has 65-70 admitted patients. “We spoke to all our doctors for all the patients who are admitted with us right now. We have an average hospital stay of 4-5 days. Most of our patients will get discharged in the next few days. The critical patients will be taken care of with adequate care,” said Manekia.
The hospital annually sees over 170,000 outpatients and 9,000 in-patients.
Earlier in the year, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) had announced the expansion plan for PAKH. The 350-bed hospital, which is coming up opposite PAKH’s current location, is presently in the planning stage and will take 4-5 years for completion.
“We thought at least till then the main building will be there with us. The structural audit’s development has come as a complete shock for all of us. We had recently inaugurated our transit building that houses the outdoor patient services and a brand-new maternity wing. The OPD services will be on. Meantime, for inpatients, we have a good rapport with neighbouring hospitals where the patients will be referred,” said Manekia.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/m ... 24563.html
Re: AGAKHAN HEALTH SERVICES
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/other/pr ... r-AA15GuvH
Prince Aly Khan Hospital demolition to begin today
Story by Somita Pal
27 oct 2022
HIndustan Times
Mumbai The demolition of the 70-year-old Prince Aly Khan (PAKH) building, Mazgaon, will begin on Tuesday after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) served them demolition notice on December 23.
PAKH had stopped surgeries and hospitalisation on August 20 after the structural audit report showed the main building fall under the Category 1 - dangerous and dilapidated. The hospital management later approached the Bombay high court after the staff continued to take diagnostic tests even after the management announced the shutdown. The second structural audit started on September 12 and the report came on September 27, confirming the results of the first structural audit. The third structural audit carried out by IIT Bombay, which was submitted in the Bombay high court, said the 70-year-old hospital building has gone through several cycles of repairs in the past and is now beyond practical repair. The report said any kind of structural repairs are neither logical nor economically viable. It said the repair of the building is not habitable under seismic conditions.
A press statement issued by the hospital management said they were discontinuing all operations. “The PAKH Board of Trustees are deeply pained by the serious findings and recommendations of all three structural audits, and the subsequent BMC notice under Sec 354 to initiate demolition proceedings of the main office building within seven days and were left with no choice but to discontinue all operations at the hospital in the best interests of all stakeholders,” the statement said. The 154-bed hospital started off as a 16-bed nursing home in 1945. The hospital saw over 170,000 outpatients and 9,000 in-patients every year.
“We will be barricading the building tomorrow and empty the building by selling off the equipment including CT Scan machine. Many hospitals are interested in taking the equipment. We have also called for a tender and advertisement in the newspapers,” said the official.
Along with the main building, which is dilapidated according to the structural audits, the management is going to bring down the two-year-old four floor outpatient building as well.
“We had shut the inpatient department in August, but continued with OPD services as we were awaiting the structural audit reports. Now that the demolition of the main building, which houses the inpatient services, is inevitable, we have sent the notice for closure for the OPD building too. We will be demolishing both the buildings as it is financially not viable to only run OPDs. The small rental amount we get from the doctors for the OPD is not enough to cover the cost of salaries and keeping the building running,” said a senior official from PAKH.
While the management stopped the OPD service from December 21, the intent of closure is for 60 days and all the PAKH will be paid salary and contractual dues till February 19, informed the PAKH official. The hospital’s 950 staff included patient service, front desk, nurses, ward boys, technicians etc. along with some full-time doctors.
Once the hospital buildings are razed, the plot will remain vacant. According to the BMC’s development plan, the area is earmarked for school.
Earlier in the year, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) had announced the expansion plan for PAKH. The 350-bed hospital, which is coming up opposite PAKH’s current location, is presently in the planning stage and will take 5-6 years for completion.
“The building plan is finalised. The hospital will come up phase-wise. It will have 200 beds in the first phase,” said the officer.
Sign on to read the HT ePaper epaper.hindustantimes.com
Prince Aly Khan Hospital demolition to begin today
Story by Somita Pal
27 oct 2022
HIndustan Times
Mumbai The demolition of the 70-year-old Prince Aly Khan (PAKH) building, Mazgaon, will begin on Tuesday after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) served them demolition notice on December 23.
PAKH had stopped surgeries and hospitalisation on August 20 after the structural audit report showed the main building fall under the Category 1 - dangerous and dilapidated. The hospital management later approached the Bombay high court after the staff continued to take diagnostic tests even after the management announced the shutdown. The second structural audit started on September 12 and the report came on September 27, confirming the results of the first structural audit. The third structural audit carried out by IIT Bombay, which was submitted in the Bombay high court, said the 70-year-old hospital building has gone through several cycles of repairs in the past and is now beyond practical repair. The report said any kind of structural repairs are neither logical nor economically viable. It said the repair of the building is not habitable under seismic conditions.
A press statement issued by the hospital management said they were discontinuing all operations. “The PAKH Board of Trustees are deeply pained by the serious findings and recommendations of all three structural audits, and the subsequent BMC notice under Sec 354 to initiate demolition proceedings of the main office building within seven days and were left with no choice but to discontinue all operations at the hospital in the best interests of all stakeholders,” the statement said. The 154-bed hospital started off as a 16-bed nursing home in 1945. The hospital saw over 170,000 outpatients and 9,000 in-patients every year.
“We will be barricading the building tomorrow and empty the building by selling off the equipment including CT Scan machine. Many hospitals are interested in taking the equipment. We have also called for a tender and advertisement in the newspapers,” said the official.
Along with the main building, which is dilapidated according to the structural audits, the management is going to bring down the two-year-old four floor outpatient building as well.
“We had shut the inpatient department in August, but continued with OPD services as we were awaiting the structural audit reports. Now that the demolition of the main building, which houses the inpatient services, is inevitable, we have sent the notice for closure for the OPD building too. We will be demolishing both the buildings as it is financially not viable to only run OPDs. The small rental amount we get from the doctors for the OPD is not enough to cover the cost of salaries and keeping the building running,” said a senior official from PAKH.
While the management stopped the OPD service from December 21, the intent of closure is for 60 days and all the PAKH will be paid salary and contractual dues till February 19, informed the PAKH official. The hospital’s 950 staff included patient service, front desk, nurses, ward boys, technicians etc. along with some full-time doctors.
Once the hospital buildings are razed, the plot will remain vacant. According to the BMC’s development plan, the area is earmarked for school.
Earlier in the year, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) had announced the expansion plan for PAKH. The 350-bed hospital, which is coming up opposite PAKH’s current location, is presently in the planning stage and will take 5-6 years for completion.
“The building plan is finalised. The hospital will come up phase-wise. It will have 200 beds in the first phase,” said the officer.
Sign on to read the HT ePaper epaper.hindustantimes.com
Re: AGAKHAN HEALTH SERVICES
https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/n ... nt-4089050
Aga Khan to install Sh12 billion radiation equipment
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Summary: The equipment which cost between €4.5 million (Sh10.8 billion) to €5 million (Sh12 billion) will have the capacity to treat 50 to 75 patients within eight working hours.
-------------
Dar es Salaam. The Aga Khan Health Institute has signed an agreement with Elekta Company for the procurement and installation of radiation therapy equipment that will better cancer screening and treatment in the country.
The equipment which cost between €4.5 million (Sh10.8 billion) to €5 million (Sh12 billion) will have the capacity to treat 50 to 75 patients within eight working hours.
The agreement, aimed at enabling the institute to acquire one of the world’s most advanced machines, will improve the provision of quality health services to Tanzanians.
Aga Khan constructing Sh13.8bn Cancer Centre in Dar es Salaam
The manager for the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam in charge of the Tanzania Comprehensive Cancer Project (TCCP), Harrison Chuwa, said that the equipment will be installed in linear accelerators models.
“As an oncologist, having signed an agreement to purchase the citiscan and radiation machine is like a dream come true,” he said.
“We started with one machine only years ago and later, we added two more machines. In 2018 the number increased to six. The new machine will make it seven,” added Dr Chuwa.
He said that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), one million people are supposed to use one machine, thereby hinting that the country falls short of 50 machines to cater the country’s 61 million population.
According to him, by installing the machine, Tanzania would be the second country in East Africa after Kenya.
For his part, Elekta vice president Feras Al Hasan said that cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, noting that the company was responsible for ensuring that every country has access to modern equipment.
“Elekta will provide the equipment and train local experts, therefore enabling them to offer quality cancer treatment services to citizens,” he said.
Aga Khan to install Sh12 billion radiation equipment
Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Summary: The equipment which cost between €4.5 million (Sh10.8 billion) to €5 million (Sh12 billion) will have the capacity to treat 50 to 75 patients within eight working hours.
-------------
Dar es Salaam. The Aga Khan Health Institute has signed an agreement with Elekta Company for the procurement and installation of radiation therapy equipment that will better cancer screening and treatment in the country.
The equipment which cost between €4.5 million (Sh10.8 billion) to €5 million (Sh12 billion) will have the capacity to treat 50 to 75 patients within eight working hours.
The agreement, aimed at enabling the institute to acquire one of the world’s most advanced machines, will improve the provision of quality health services to Tanzanians.
Aga Khan constructing Sh13.8bn Cancer Centre in Dar es Salaam
The manager for the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam in charge of the Tanzania Comprehensive Cancer Project (TCCP), Harrison Chuwa, said that the equipment will be installed in linear accelerators models.
“As an oncologist, having signed an agreement to purchase the citiscan and radiation machine is like a dream come true,” he said.
“We started with one machine only years ago and later, we added two more machines. In 2018 the number increased to six. The new machine will make it seven,” added Dr Chuwa.
He said that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), one million people are supposed to use one machine, thereby hinting that the country falls short of 50 machines to cater the country’s 61 million population.
According to him, by installing the machine, Tanzania would be the second country in East Africa after Kenya.
For his part, Elekta vice president Feras Al Hasan said that cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, noting that the company was responsible for ensuring that every country has access to modern equipment.
“Elekta will provide the equipment and train local experts, therefore enabling them to offer quality cancer treatment services to citizens,” he said.
Re: AGAKHAN HEALTH SERVICES
https://www.the-star.co.ke/counties/coa ... usinesses/
Aga Khan Foundation helps vulnerable community members start businesses
20,000 vulnerable community members across six counties in Kenya have benefitted.
In Summary
• Funded by the European Union, the programme has been sponsored to the tune of Sh56 million.
• Beneficiaries in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu counties on the Coast, and Kisii and Nakuru counties in the Western part of Kenya.
-------------
Jay, not his real name, did not believe Sh500 could help him start a business venture in Mombasa.
This is partly because he was a drug and substance abuse addict and extricating himself from the vice has been a struggle.
He was however lucky to have been identified by Mewa, an organisation dealing with the rehabilitation of his ilk, and was trained on financial literacy and social skills while being reintegrated into society gradually.
Armed with new skills set, he set out to buy hijabs at Markiti and started selling them to his family members, including his sisters and aunts, who are now gradually accepting him back.
From buying five pieces of hijabs to now buying 24 and selling them not only to family members but also to an expanded clientele, Jay can now call himself a businessman with a supportive family to boot.
Sarah, also not her real name, wanted a capital of Sh10,000 to start a business.
This was until she met John Kamau Juma of Family Aid Initiative Response (FAIR) in Nakuru county.
Kamau trained Sarah and 30 others on financial literacy in a programme targeting vulnerable households in Nakuru West subcounty who had been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sarah was given Sh500 with which she bought 2kg of groundnuts.
She roasted and sold them, making Sh1,050.
“With a capital of only Sh500, she was able to make a profit of Sh550. This was a person who had been living with her in-laws for three months before the project started,” Kamau said.
“With Sh550 in a day, in a week you can make more and in a month even more.”
Sarah was able to pay her rent and stop living with her in-laws.
“As we speak today, she has a very comfortable life. She is a dancer and has been able to pursue her passion," Kamau said.
With the stress reduced, she has been able to get performance contracts and earn both from groundnuts and dancing.
Kamau said the project has made people start believing that they can do it no matter how small they start.
Jay and Sarah are just two of more than 20,000 beneficiaries of a Covid-19 response and intervention programme initiated by the Aga Khan Foundation.
Funded by the European Union, the programme, sponsored to the tune of Sh56 million, was initiated during Covid-19 to respond to the needs that arose from the pandemic, according to AKF’s Stellamaris Mumbua.
Mumbua said it was implemented through Civil Society Organisations in six counties in Kenya.
The counties are Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu counties on the Coast, and Kisii and Nakuru counties in the Western part of Kenya.
The Sh56 million was disbursed to 12 CSOs whose mandate was to identify needs in the community, work closely with their networks and come up with relevant interventions.
The programme started in September 2022.
The areas of intervention included mental health, sexual and gender-based violence, social skills, financial literacy, healthcare, psychosocial support, among others.
“One of our partners in Nakuru trained community members on farming technologies and they have been doing an amazing job to ensure they can provide food to their families and immediate members,” Mumbua said.
“Community members who had experienced SGBV had started embracing themselves. Some of them felt like outcasts but have now been reintegrated back into their families. There has been a lot of reconciliation and those cases have gone down.”
Mewa’s Mariam Musa said they worked in Kisauni and Nyali subcounties, with 200 young males and 200 young females who were abusing drugs.
“We were dealing with people who were using drugs but specifically we were looking at mental health as a component that was very strong. We were supporting these people to be in touch with themselves first of all,” Musa said.
They trained 50 of them on economic empowerment and livelihood strategy for them to be able to support themselves, apart from having mentorship programmes.
These, including Jay, were given capital to start businesses that they proposed.
“We intend to continue mentoring them because we need to ensure that they proceed with whatever they have done,” Musa said.
Aga Khan Foundation’s regional technical adviser for civil society Cynthia Adhiambo said the extensive network, knowledge and capacity in civil society.
“For us, it is very important to ensure that civil societies have the capacity and resources to engage communities beneficially,” Adhiambo said.
She said the foundation has been happy to provide grants to the CSOs, who have been at the forefront in addressing challenges brought about by Covid.
Adhiambo said the same project was undertaken in Uganda and Tanzania.
The foundation is looking to provide long-term support for CSOs in various ways, including follow-up support, training and capacity building.
Aga Khan Foundation helps vulnerable community members start businesses
20,000 vulnerable community members across six counties in Kenya have benefitted.
In Summary
• Funded by the European Union, the programme has been sponsored to the tune of Sh56 million.
• Beneficiaries in Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu counties on the Coast, and Kisii and Nakuru counties in the Western part of Kenya.
-------------
Jay, not his real name, did not believe Sh500 could help him start a business venture in Mombasa.
This is partly because he was a drug and substance abuse addict and extricating himself from the vice has been a struggle.
He was however lucky to have been identified by Mewa, an organisation dealing with the rehabilitation of his ilk, and was trained on financial literacy and social skills while being reintegrated into society gradually.
Armed with new skills set, he set out to buy hijabs at Markiti and started selling them to his family members, including his sisters and aunts, who are now gradually accepting him back.
From buying five pieces of hijabs to now buying 24 and selling them not only to family members but also to an expanded clientele, Jay can now call himself a businessman with a supportive family to boot.
Sarah, also not her real name, wanted a capital of Sh10,000 to start a business.
This was until she met John Kamau Juma of Family Aid Initiative Response (FAIR) in Nakuru county.
Kamau trained Sarah and 30 others on financial literacy in a programme targeting vulnerable households in Nakuru West subcounty who had been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sarah was given Sh500 with which she bought 2kg of groundnuts.
She roasted and sold them, making Sh1,050.
“With a capital of only Sh500, she was able to make a profit of Sh550. This was a person who had been living with her in-laws for three months before the project started,” Kamau said.
“With Sh550 in a day, in a week you can make more and in a month even more.”
Sarah was able to pay her rent and stop living with her in-laws.
“As we speak today, she has a very comfortable life. She is a dancer and has been able to pursue her passion," Kamau said.
With the stress reduced, she has been able to get performance contracts and earn both from groundnuts and dancing.
Kamau said the project has made people start believing that they can do it no matter how small they start.
Jay and Sarah are just two of more than 20,000 beneficiaries of a Covid-19 response and intervention programme initiated by the Aga Khan Foundation.
Funded by the European Union, the programme, sponsored to the tune of Sh56 million, was initiated during Covid-19 to respond to the needs that arose from the pandemic, according to AKF’s Stellamaris Mumbua.
Mumbua said it was implemented through Civil Society Organisations in six counties in Kenya.
The counties are Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi and Lamu counties on the Coast, and Kisii and Nakuru counties in the Western part of Kenya.
The Sh56 million was disbursed to 12 CSOs whose mandate was to identify needs in the community, work closely with their networks and come up with relevant interventions.
The programme started in September 2022.
The areas of intervention included mental health, sexual and gender-based violence, social skills, financial literacy, healthcare, psychosocial support, among others.
“One of our partners in Nakuru trained community members on farming technologies and they have been doing an amazing job to ensure they can provide food to their families and immediate members,” Mumbua said.
“Community members who had experienced SGBV had started embracing themselves. Some of them felt like outcasts but have now been reintegrated back into their families. There has been a lot of reconciliation and those cases have gone down.”
Mewa’s Mariam Musa said they worked in Kisauni and Nyali subcounties, with 200 young males and 200 young females who were abusing drugs.
“We were dealing with people who were using drugs but specifically we were looking at mental health as a component that was very strong. We were supporting these people to be in touch with themselves first of all,” Musa said.
They trained 50 of them on economic empowerment and livelihood strategy for them to be able to support themselves, apart from having mentorship programmes.
These, including Jay, were given capital to start businesses that they proposed.
“We intend to continue mentoring them because we need to ensure that they proceed with whatever they have done,” Musa said.
Aga Khan Foundation’s regional technical adviser for civil society Cynthia Adhiambo said the extensive network, knowledge and capacity in civil society.
“For us, it is very important to ensure that civil societies have the capacity and resources to engage communities beneficially,” Adhiambo said.
She said the foundation has been happy to provide grants to the CSOs, who have been at the forefront in addressing challenges brought about by Covid.
Adhiambo said the same project was undertaken in Uganda and Tanzania.
The foundation is looking to provide long-term support for CSOs in various ways, including follow-up support, training and capacity building.
Princess Zahra at Expansion of AGA KHAN HOSPITAL Kisumu
https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/wha ... lth-of-66m
Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu expanded to improve health of 6.6m
Kenya · 21 February 2024
Kisumu, Kenya, 20 February 2024 – The newly expanded Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu is providing the people of Kenya’s Lake Region with access to quality health services previously unavailable in the community. Transformed from a 70-bed facility into a leading 123-bed secondary hospital with state-of-the-art diagnostic services, the ultra-modern building features a dedicated Accidents and Emergency Unit, a larger Intensive Care Unit, the region’s first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and its first Sleep Lab, which will use cutting-edge technology to diagnose and treat sleep disorders.
Holding the prestigious Level 5 (highest level) certification from SafeCare Health Standards, the hospital offers a range of care in over 30 clinical specialties and subspecialties including cardiology, oncology, neurology, psychiatry, advanced surgeries, family medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, nephrology, orthopaedics, paediatrics and neonatology.
“Located in the central constituency of Kisumu, the third-largest city in the country, Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu is pivotal to our mission of providing critical health services to a population base of nearly 600,000 people and beyond that to the nearly 6.6 million people of the Lake Region,” noted Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Chair of the Executive Committee of the Aga Khan Health Services.
“By being part of a broader, integrated network, the hospital is providing timely, fit-for-purpose care to the people who need it most. It is moving us closer to delivering on our mission of treating disease and caring for people holistically and completely.”
As the leading private hospital in the region, Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu, has consistently expanded its presence and range of services since its establishment in 1952, proactively catering to the evolving needs of the community. It currently serves over 15 counties in the Lake Region and even receives patients from Uganda and Tanzania. Over the years, the hospital has become a hub of qualified doctors and nurses who provide cutting-edge care to the community.
Plans are underway to establish 10 outreach health centres, adding to the existing network of 13. These will strengthen the first line of care in the city and beyond and will establish a seamless network of healthcare facilities that will provide care at every level – from essential health services to community-based comprehensive care to specialist care at the Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu.
The hospital embarked on its expansion journey in 2015 by introducing an MRI facility. Construction of the new building commenced in 2021. This endeavour, amounting to a total investment of nearly $19 million, was made feasible by the significant support of Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
The expansion is a testament to the steadfast partnership between the Government of Kenya, AFD and the Aga Khan Development Network to drive accessibility of affordable quality health care in the country. The collaboration spans many years and projects, including the recent upgrade of the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa.
“The project we are celebrating today is a demonstration of AFD’s strong partnership with the Aga Khan Health Services,” said Ms Hélène N’Garnim-Ganga, Regional Director Eastern Africa, AFD. “The project will help improve the health of Kenyans by positioning the Aga Khan Kisumu Hospital as a referral hospital for secondary care, supporting the various outreach health centres affiliated with it in the larger Kisumu region.
“This hospital extension, built with Aga Khan’s Green Building Initiative approach, integrates green solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is an example of how hospitals can adapt to climate change while offering quality care.”
Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu expanded to improve health of 6.6m
Kenya · 21 February 2024
Kisumu, Kenya, 20 February 2024 – The newly expanded Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu is providing the people of Kenya’s Lake Region with access to quality health services previously unavailable in the community. Transformed from a 70-bed facility into a leading 123-bed secondary hospital with state-of-the-art diagnostic services, the ultra-modern building features a dedicated Accidents and Emergency Unit, a larger Intensive Care Unit, the region’s first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and its first Sleep Lab, which will use cutting-edge technology to diagnose and treat sleep disorders.
Holding the prestigious Level 5 (highest level) certification from SafeCare Health Standards, the hospital offers a range of care in over 30 clinical specialties and subspecialties including cardiology, oncology, neurology, psychiatry, advanced surgeries, family medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, nephrology, orthopaedics, paediatrics and neonatology.
“Located in the central constituency of Kisumu, the third-largest city in the country, Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu is pivotal to our mission of providing critical health services to a population base of nearly 600,000 people and beyond that to the nearly 6.6 million people of the Lake Region,” noted Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Chair of the Executive Committee of the Aga Khan Health Services.
“By being part of a broader, integrated network, the hospital is providing timely, fit-for-purpose care to the people who need it most. It is moving us closer to delivering on our mission of treating disease and caring for people holistically and completely.”
As the leading private hospital in the region, Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu, has consistently expanded its presence and range of services since its establishment in 1952, proactively catering to the evolving needs of the community. It currently serves over 15 counties in the Lake Region and even receives patients from Uganda and Tanzania. Over the years, the hospital has become a hub of qualified doctors and nurses who provide cutting-edge care to the community.
Plans are underway to establish 10 outreach health centres, adding to the existing network of 13. These will strengthen the first line of care in the city and beyond and will establish a seamless network of healthcare facilities that will provide care at every level – from essential health services to community-based comprehensive care to specialist care at the Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu.
The hospital embarked on its expansion journey in 2015 by introducing an MRI facility. Construction of the new building commenced in 2021. This endeavour, amounting to a total investment of nearly $19 million, was made feasible by the significant support of Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
The expansion is a testament to the steadfast partnership between the Government of Kenya, AFD and the Aga Khan Development Network to drive accessibility of affordable quality health care in the country. The collaboration spans many years and projects, including the recent upgrade of the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa.
“The project we are celebrating today is a demonstration of AFD’s strong partnership with the Aga Khan Health Services,” said Ms Hélène N’Garnim-Ganga, Regional Director Eastern Africa, AFD. “The project will help improve the health of Kenyans by positioning the Aga Khan Kisumu Hospital as a referral hospital for secondary care, supporting the various outreach health centres affiliated with it in the larger Kisumu region.
“This hospital extension, built with Aga Khan’s Green Building Initiative approach, integrates green solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is an example of how hospitals can adapt to climate change while offering quality care.”
AGAKHAN HEALTH SERVICES and AFD in Kisumu
https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/wha ... lth-of-66m
Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu expanded to improve health of 6.6m
Kenya · 21 February 2024
Kisumu, Kenya, 20 February 2024 – The newly expanded Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu is providing the people of Kenya’s Lake Region with access to quality health services previously unavailable in the community. Transformed from a 70-bed facility into a leading 123-bed secondary hospital with state-of-the-art diagnostic services, the ultra-modern building features a dedicated Accidents and Emergency Unit, a larger Intensive Care Unit, the region’s first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and its first Sleep Lab, which will use cutting-edge technology to diagnose and treat sleep disorders.
Holding the prestigious Level 5 (highest level) certification from SafeCare Health Standards, the hospital offers a range of care in over 30 clinical specialties and subspecialties including cardiology, oncology, neurology, psychiatry, advanced surgeries, family medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, nephrology, orthopaedics, paediatrics and neonatology.
“Located in the central constituency of Kisumu, the third-largest city in the country, Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu is pivotal to our mission of providing critical health services to a population base of nearly 600,000 people and beyond that to the nearly 6.6 million people of the Lake Region,” noted Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Chair of the Executive Committee of the Aga Khan Health Services.
“By being part of a broader, integrated network, the hospital is providing timely, fit-for-purpose care to the people who need it most. It is moving us closer to delivering on our mission of treating disease and caring for people holistically and completely.”
As the leading private hospital in the region, Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu, has consistently expanded its presence and range of services since its establishment in 1952, proactively catering to the evolving needs of the community. It currently serves over 15 counties in the Lake Region and even receives patients from Uganda and Tanzania. Over the years, the hospital has become a hub of qualified doctors and nurses who provide cutting-edge care to the community.
Plans are underway to establish 10 outreach health centres, adding to the existing network of 13. These will strengthen the first line of care in the city and beyond and will establish a seamless network of healthcare facilities that will provide care at every level – from essential health services to community-based comprehensive care to specialist care at the Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu.
The hospital embarked on its expansion journey in 2015 by introducing an MRI facility. Construction of the new building commenced in 2021. This endeavour, amounting to a total investment of nearly $19 million, was made feasible by the significant support of Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
The expansion is a testament to the steadfast partnership between the Government of Kenya, AFD and the Aga Khan Development Network to drive accessibility of affordable quality health care in the country. The collaboration spans many years and projects, including the recent upgrade of the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa.
“The project we are celebrating today is a demonstration of AFD’s strong partnership with the Aga Khan Health Services,” said Ms Hélène N’Garnim-Ganga, Regional Director Eastern Africa, AFD. “The project will help improve the health of Kenyans by positioning the Aga Khan Kisumu Hospital as a referral hospital for secondary care, supporting the various outreach health centres affiliated with it in the larger Kisumu region.
“This hospital extension, built with Aga Khan’s Green Building Initiative approach, integrates green solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is an example of how hospitals can adapt to climate change while offering quality care.”
Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu expanded to improve health of 6.6m
Kenya · 21 February 2024
Kisumu, Kenya, 20 February 2024 – The newly expanded Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu is providing the people of Kenya’s Lake Region with access to quality health services previously unavailable in the community. Transformed from a 70-bed facility into a leading 123-bed secondary hospital with state-of-the-art diagnostic services, the ultra-modern building features a dedicated Accidents and Emergency Unit, a larger Intensive Care Unit, the region’s first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and its first Sleep Lab, which will use cutting-edge technology to diagnose and treat sleep disorders.
Holding the prestigious Level 5 (highest level) certification from SafeCare Health Standards, the hospital offers a range of care in over 30 clinical specialties and subspecialties including cardiology, oncology, neurology, psychiatry, advanced surgeries, family medicine, endocrinology, gastroenterology, gynaecology, nephrology, orthopaedics, paediatrics and neonatology.
“Located in the central constituency of Kisumu, the third-largest city in the country, Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu is pivotal to our mission of providing critical health services to a population base of nearly 600,000 people and beyond that to the nearly 6.6 million people of the Lake Region,” noted Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Chair of the Executive Committee of the Aga Khan Health Services.
“By being part of a broader, integrated network, the hospital is providing timely, fit-for-purpose care to the people who need it most. It is moving us closer to delivering on our mission of treating disease and caring for people holistically and completely.”
As the leading private hospital in the region, Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu, has consistently expanded its presence and range of services since its establishment in 1952, proactively catering to the evolving needs of the community. It currently serves over 15 counties in the Lake Region and even receives patients from Uganda and Tanzania. Over the years, the hospital has become a hub of qualified doctors and nurses who provide cutting-edge care to the community.
Plans are underway to establish 10 outreach health centres, adding to the existing network of 13. These will strengthen the first line of care in the city and beyond and will establish a seamless network of healthcare facilities that will provide care at every level – from essential health services to community-based comprehensive care to specialist care at the Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu.
The hospital embarked on its expansion journey in 2015 by introducing an MRI facility. Construction of the new building commenced in 2021. This endeavour, amounting to a total investment of nearly $19 million, was made feasible by the significant support of Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
The expansion is a testament to the steadfast partnership between the Government of Kenya, AFD and the Aga Khan Development Network to drive accessibility of affordable quality health care in the country. The collaboration spans many years and projects, including the recent upgrade of the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa.
“The project we are celebrating today is a demonstration of AFD’s strong partnership with the Aga Khan Health Services,” said Ms Hélène N’Garnim-Ganga, Regional Director Eastern Africa, AFD. “The project will help improve the health of Kenyans by positioning the Aga Khan Kisumu Hospital as a referral hospital for secondary care, supporting the various outreach health centres affiliated with it in the larger Kisumu region.
“This hospital extension, built with Aga Khan’s Green Building Initiative approach, integrates green solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and is an example of how hospitals can adapt to climate change while offering quality care.”
New Agakhan Hospital in Dodoma TANZANIA
New Agakhan Hospital in Dodoma TANZANIA behind Jamat Khana.opening soon on 3rd May 2024 by Princess Zahra Aga Khan will do the opening.
Princess Zahra to preside over opening of Cancer Care Centre in Tanzania
THE ISMAILI | 30 April 2024 | GLOBAL
The Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam is managed by Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS), which has been operating in Tanzania since the 1920s.
Princess Zahra will deliver remarks tomorrow at the inauguration of a Cancer Care Centre at the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam. Join us live from Tanzania to learn how AKDN is helping to improve the quality of healthcare in East Africa.
Tanzania’s deputy prime minister Dr Doto Mashaka Biteko, will join Princess Zahra, development partners, and guests at the event to mark the latest expansion of the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam.
The Hospital is managed by Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS), which has been operating in Tanzania since the 1920s, and counts among the longest-serving healthcare institutions in East Africa. Striving to deliver services to international standards, AKHS facilities in Tanzania are known today for their high level of ethical practices, innovation, and provision of quality healthcare.
Cancer is on the rise in regions like East Africa, which are less well-equipped for the onslaught of non-communicable diseases. Through enhanced screening, diagnosis, and treatment, the new Centre in Dar es Salaam hopes to raise awareness in the local community and offer enhanced levels of care.
—
The event will take place on 2 May 2024, and will be streamed live on The Ismaili TV. Coverage will begin at 8:30 AM (London) / 10:30 AM (Dar es Salaam) / 12:30 (Karachi) / 13:00 PM (Mumbai).
https://the.ismaili/global/news/imamat- ... e-tanzania
The Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam is managed by Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS), which has been operating in Tanzania since the 1920s.
Princess Zahra will deliver remarks tomorrow at the inauguration of a Cancer Care Centre at the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam. Join us live from Tanzania to learn how AKDN is helping to improve the quality of healthcare in East Africa.
Tanzania’s deputy prime minister Dr Doto Mashaka Biteko, will join Princess Zahra, development partners, and guests at the event to mark the latest expansion of the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam.
The Hospital is managed by Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS), which has been operating in Tanzania since the 1920s, and counts among the longest-serving healthcare institutions in East Africa. Striving to deliver services to international standards, AKHS facilities in Tanzania are known today for their high level of ethical practices, innovation, and provision of quality healthcare.
Cancer is on the rise in regions like East Africa, which are less well-equipped for the onslaught of non-communicable diseases. Through enhanced screening, diagnosis, and treatment, the new Centre in Dar es Salaam hopes to raise awareness in the local community and offer enhanced levels of care.
—
The event will take place on 2 May 2024, and will be streamed live on The Ismaili TV. Coverage will begin at 8:30 AM (London) / 10:30 AM (Dar es Salaam) / 12:30 (Karachi) / 13:00 PM (Mumbai).
https://the.ismaili/global/news/imamat- ... e-tanzania
Re: AGAKHAN HEALTH SERVICES
2024, May 2: Cancer Care Center Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam - Princess Zahra Aga Khan spoke at the Opening Ceremony. Webcast
SPEECH VIDEO: https://www.ismaili.net/timeline/2024/2 ... -zahra.mp4
SPEECH VIDEO: https://www.ismaili.net/timeline/2024/2 ... -zahra.mp4
Re: AGAKHAN HEALTH SERVICES
The Aga Khan University Hospital Achieves Fifth Successive International Quality Accreditation
The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH,N) has been accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), marking its fifth successive accreditation and reaffirming its position as a regional leader in quality and patient safety.
AKUH,N was the first hospital in East Africa to achieve the prestigious JCI quality standard in 2013 and has been successfully reaccredited every three years since then, underscoring its unwavering commitment to safe, reliable, and patient-centered care.
“By opening ourselves to an external, internationally recognized audit process—and consistently passing it—we are showing our commitment to benchmarking our care with the best hospitals globally," said Rashid Khalani, Chief Executive Officer, AKUH,N.
JCI accreditation is the gold standard for health care providers, signifying that a hospital has been independently evaluated and confirmed to meet rigorous global standards for quality and patient safety. Hospitals undergo a comprehensive audit every three years before they can be re-accredited.
This year's accreditation is especially significant, as the hospital was surveyed under the latest 8th edition JCI Academic Medical Centre standards, which came into effect in January 2025—making AKUH,N the first JCI-accredited Academic Medical Centre in sub-Saharan Africa. The Academic Medical Centre survey has an expanded scope that evaluates additional compliance with the Medical Professional Education and the Human Subject Research Program (HRP) standards.
In addition, the hospital was surveyed against the new Global Health Impact (GHI) standards, which rigorously evaluate the extent to which the hospital advances decarbonization and mitigates or reduces greenhouse gas emissions through environmentally friendly initiatives and operations. Accreditation as an organization whose operations are compliant with the pursuit of net-zero emissions and mitigation against climate change makes AKUH,N a continental leader in this area.
This latest achievement follows an intensive on-site survey conducted in November 2025, during which AKUH,N achieved an outstanding score of 98.4%. The hospital was assessed against 268 standards and nearly 1,200 measurable elements, ranging from patient safety, clinical standards, infection control, medication management, and facility safety to patient experience, documentation, emergency preparedness, leadership, staff training, and staff competencies.
A score of 98.4% places AKUH,N among a select group of hospitals globally recognized for outstanding reliability, safety, and clinical performance.
“This accreditation is not simply a certificate on the wall. It defines our way of life and guides the way we provide care, review patient outcomes, update our processes, and implement continuous improvement plans," Mr Khalani added.
This JCI accreditation adds to the hospital's growing list of quality milestones. In 2020, AKUH,N became the first hospital in sub-Saharan Africa—and only the second in Africa—to earn JCI's Centre of Excellence certification for the management of heart attacks, and was successfully reaccredited in 2023. AKUH,N was also the first hospital in Africa to be accredited as a JCI Centre of Excellence in the management of Acute Primary Stroke in 2021 and was successfully reaccredited in July 2024.
Furthermore, the hospital's laboratory holds dual accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS).
“These accreditations require significant investment in people, facilities, and technology," said Mr Khalani. “And although regulators do not require them, we continue to pursue these standards because it is the right thing to do for our patients."
https://hospitals.aku.edu/nairobi/About ... -time.aspx
The Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi (AKUH,N) has been accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), marking its fifth successive accreditation and reaffirming its position as a regional leader in quality and patient safety.
AKUH,N was the first hospital in East Africa to achieve the prestigious JCI quality standard in 2013 and has been successfully reaccredited every three years since then, underscoring its unwavering commitment to safe, reliable, and patient-centered care.
“By opening ourselves to an external, internationally recognized audit process—and consistently passing it—we are showing our commitment to benchmarking our care with the best hospitals globally," said Rashid Khalani, Chief Executive Officer, AKUH,N.
JCI accreditation is the gold standard for health care providers, signifying that a hospital has been independently evaluated and confirmed to meet rigorous global standards for quality and patient safety. Hospitals undergo a comprehensive audit every three years before they can be re-accredited.
This year's accreditation is especially significant, as the hospital was surveyed under the latest 8th edition JCI Academic Medical Centre standards, which came into effect in January 2025—making AKUH,N the first JCI-accredited Academic Medical Centre in sub-Saharan Africa. The Academic Medical Centre survey has an expanded scope that evaluates additional compliance with the Medical Professional Education and the Human Subject Research Program (HRP) standards.
In addition, the hospital was surveyed against the new Global Health Impact (GHI) standards, which rigorously evaluate the extent to which the hospital advances decarbonization and mitigates or reduces greenhouse gas emissions through environmentally friendly initiatives and operations. Accreditation as an organization whose operations are compliant with the pursuit of net-zero emissions and mitigation against climate change makes AKUH,N a continental leader in this area.
This latest achievement follows an intensive on-site survey conducted in November 2025, during which AKUH,N achieved an outstanding score of 98.4%. The hospital was assessed against 268 standards and nearly 1,200 measurable elements, ranging from patient safety, clinical standards, infection control, medication management, and facility safety to patient experience, documentation, emergency preparedness, leadership, staff training, and staff competencies.
A score of 98.4% places AKUH,N among a select group of hospitals globally recognized for outstanding reliability, safety, and clinical performance.
“This accreditation is not simply a certificate on the wall. It defines our way of life and guides the way we provide care, review patient outcomes, update our processes, and implement continuous improvement plans," Mr Khalani added.
This JCI accreditation adds to the hospital's growing list of quality milestones. In 2020, AKUH,N became the first hospital in sub-Saharan Africa—and only the second in Africa—to earn JCI's Centre of Excellence certification for the management of heart attacks, and was successfully reaccredited in 2023. AKUH,N was also the first hospital in Africa to be accredited as a JCI Centre of Excellence in the management of Acute Primary Stroke in 2021 and was successfully reaccredited in July 2024.
Furthermore, the hospital's laboratory holds dual accreditation from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) and the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS).
“These accreditations require significant investment in people, facilities, and technology," said Mr Khalani. “And although regulators do not require them, we continue to pursue these standards because it is the right thing to do for our patients."
https://hospitals.aku.edu/nairobi/About ... -time.aspx
Re: AGAKHAN HEALTH SERVICES
A century of new beginnings
Mawlana Shah Karim visited the facility in Kharadar in 1962 to lay the foundation stone for an additional wing.Photo: AKDN
Tucked away near Karachi Port, the hospital continues to serve the community with a growing reputation and expanded reach.Photo: AKDN
By Sujjawal Ahmad
Situated in one of Karachi’s oldest neighbourhoods, behind weathered 20-foot teak doors and century-old ceilings, many thousands of babies have taken their first breaths. The Aga Khan Hospital for Women and Children in Kharadar—originally the Janbai Kassum Valli Khoja Ismailia Maternity Home—this year marked its 100th year of welcoming new life into the world.
It's a rare institution: a hospital that has served four generations of families while surviving the transformation of Karachi from a colonial port city into a sprawling metropolis of 16 million residents. The story of its survival reveals both the evolution of maternal healthcare in Pakistan and the commitment of volunteers who refused to let this landmark fade.
It all began in the year 1920, when Imam Sultan Mahomed Shah laid the initial foundation stone. At the time, community midwives and traditional healers were the primary source of care during pregnancy. A dedicated facility was needed to serve the healthcare requirements of the local Jamat and neighbouring residents. The Imam’s vision was supported by a generous donation from Vazir Bandeali Kassim, and the hospital was named after his mother. When it opened, the facility featured 24 beds and modern equipment—making it an advanced maternity home of its time.
“I can still hear the soft click of the old wooden doors as they closed behind me the first time I walked into the maternity home. I was just a young volunteer in my early twenties and was eager to help in any way I could,” recalls Fayyaz Fadwani, a long-time volunteer at the facility.
Consider what childbirth in Karachi looked like before then: women delivered at home, infection was common, and the nearest hospital was miles away through unpaved streets. Historians estimate that somewhere between 20 to 25 women died for every 1,000 live births. Pakistan’s current rate represents an 80 percent improvement, and in facilities like Kharadar, with trained staff and modern equipment, the rate drops even further.
Decades passed but the hospital never lost sight of its mission to support the most vulnerable. Tucked away near Karachi Port, it continues to serve the community with a growing reputation and expanded reach. In 2009, the maternity home faced a crossroads. The building was ageing, medical standards were evolving rapidly and accreditation requirements had become more stringent. Thus, the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) assumed management to ensure the facility aligned with international standards of care.
“My very first task was to assist with the renovation work in the building. The corridors had cracked floors, the pre-labour room and nursery were being rebuilt, and new private rooms were being added. The main structure, built in the 1920s, was made of interlocked stone without any pillars,” added Fayyaz. “But even then, it was clear that this place wasn’t just a hospital. For generations, it had been a safe haven for women and children right in the heart of the old city.”
Impressive numbers tell the story of its impact. Between 2009 and 2023, the SafeCare accredited hospital treated more than 1.3 million patients and welcomed over 120,000 newborn babies. In the last nine years alone, it recorded 42,811 deliveries, 42,730 inpatient admissions, 1,683 surgeries, and nearly 828,000 outpatient visits. Beyond the statistics lies a human touch much appreciated by all who walk through its doors.
“One of the most touching experiences for anyone who would have sought care from the hospital, is the compassion and expertise that it offers,” said Faryal Shaheen, a recent patient. “Many generations in my own family have benefited from its services. Today, as I hold my healthy baby, I am deeply grateful that we still have places like this. The 100 year old history of its building, excellence and humanity come together here to welcome new lives into the world.”
In recent years, the hospital has undergone a range of upgrades and renovations. Fayyaz, who also served as Chairman of the facility, shared how small, thoughtful changes made a big difference. “We saw a lot of food being wasted, so we introduced a five-rupee meal. It wasn’t just about saving food—it was about promoting dignity and responsibility.” Another upgrade, Fayyaz recalled, was the introduction of a water cooling system, reliable power generators, and, most notably, an elevator. “Before that, patients had to climb a single ladder to access the upper floors. The installation of the elevator marked a major leap forward in accessibility and comfort.”
However, restoration of a century old building comes with unique challenges. The original bamboo ceilings and scissor floor structure needed innovative solutions to expand space without losing the building’s historic charm. The team also successfully preserved the building’s 20-foot teak doors, arched windows, and classic flooring.
In 1962, Mawlana Shah Karim laid the foundation stone for an additional wing. In 1985, during the hospital’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, he returned with members of his family to honour the institution’s legacy and acknowledge the service of volunteers.
For those who have served here, the journey has been deeply personal. “It felt like a family reunion,” explained Jawed Syed, a member of the administrative staff, speaking of the 100 year anniversary celebrations. “We were not just celebrating a building, but we were honoring a century of humanity.”
Today, the hospital is not only a landmark of the past, but also a beacon of hope for generations yet to be born. Newborn cries echo down the corridors just as they have for decades, and that sound will fill them for the next 100 years.
Kharadar’s narrow alleys still buzz with rickshaws and street vendors. Each time an expectant mother walks through the tall teak doors, they are walking through history. But they’re also walking into their future.
https://the.ismaili/us/en/news/a-centur ... beginnings
Mawlana Shah Karim visited the facility in Kharadar in 1962 to lay the foundation stone for an additional wing.Photo: AKDN
Tucked away near Karachi Port, the hospital continues to serve the community with a growing reputation and expanded reach.Photo: AKDN
By Sujjawal Ahmad
Situated in one of Karachi’s oldest neighbourhoods, behind weathered 20-foot teak doors and century-old ceilings, many thousands of babies have taken their first breaths. The Aga Khan Hospital for Women and Children in Kharadar—originally the Janbai Kassum Valli Khoja Ismailia Maternity Home—this year marked its 100th year of welcoming new life into the world.
It's a rare institution: a hospital that has served four generations of families while surviving the transformation of Karachi from a colonial port city into a sprawling metropolis of 16 million residents. The story of its survival reveals both the evolution of maternal healthcare in Pakistan and the commitment of volunteers who refused to let this landmark fade.
It all began in the year 1920, when Imam Sultan Mahomed Shah laid the initial foundation stone. At the time, community midwives and traditional healers were the primary source of care during pregnancy. A dedicated facility was needed to serve the healthcare requirements of the local Jamat and neighbouring residents. The Imam’s vision was supported by a generous donation from Vazir Bandeali Kassim, and the hospital was named after his mother. When it opened, the facility featured 24 beds and modern equipment—making it an advanced maternity home of its time.
“I can still hear the soft click of the old wooden doors as they closed behind me the first time I walked into the maternity home. I was just a young volunteer in my early twenties and was eager to help in any way I could,” recalls Fayyaz Fadwani, a long-time volunteer at the facility.
Consider what childbirth in Karachi looked like before then: women delivered at home, infection was common, and the nearest hospital was miles away through unpaved streets. Historians estimate that somewhere between 20 to 25 women died for every 1,000 live births. Pakistan’s current rate represents an 80 percent improvement, and in facilities like Kharadar, with trained staff and modern equipment, the rate drops even further.
Decades passed but the hospital never lost sight of its mission to support the most vulnerable. Tucked away near Karachi Port, it continues to serve the community with a growing reputation and expanded reach. In 2009, the maternity home faced a crossroads. The building was ageing, medical standards were evolving rapidly and accreditation requirements had become more stringent. Thus, the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) assumed management to ensure the facility aligned with international standards of care.
“My very first task was to assist with the renovation work in the building. The corridors had cracked floors, the pre-labour room and nursery were being rebuilt, and new private rooms were being added. The main structure, built in the 1920s, was made of interlocked stone without any pillars,” added Fayyaz. “But even then, it was clear that this place wasn’t just a hospital. For generations, it had been a safe haven for women and children right in the heart of the old city.”
Impressive numbers tell the story of its impact. Between 2009 and 2023, the SafeCare accredited hospital treated more than 1.3 million patients and welcomed over 120,000 newborn babies. In the last nine years alone, it recorded 42,811 deliveries, 42,730 inpatient admissions, 1,683 surgeries, and nearly 828,000 outpatient visits. Beyond the statistics lies a human touch much appreciated by all who walk through its doors.
“One of the most touching experiences for anyone who would have sought care from the hospital, is the compassion and expertise that it offers,” said Faryal Shaheen, a recent patient. “Many generations in my own family have benefited from its services. Today, as I hold my healthy baby, I am deeply grateful that we still have places like this. The 100 year old history of its building, excellence and humanity come together here to welcome new lives into the world.”
In recent years, the hospital has undergone a range of upgrades and renovations. Fayyaz, who also served as Chairman of the facility, shared how small, thoughtful changes made a big difference. “We saw a lot of food being wasted, so we introduced a five-rupee meal. It wasn’t just about saving food—it was about promoting dignity and responsibility.” Another upgrade, Fayyaz recalled, was the introduction of a water cooling system, reliable power generators, and, most notably, an elevator. “Before that, patients had to climb a single ladder to access the upper floors. The installation of the elevator marked a major leap forward in accessibility and comfort.”
However, restoration of a century old building comes with unique challenges. The original bamboo ceilings and scissor floor structure needed innovative solutions to expand space without losing the building’s historic charm. The team also successfully preserved the building’s 20-foot teak doors, arched windows, and classic flooring.
In 1962, Mawlana Shah Karim laid the foundation stone for an additional wing. In 1985, during the hospital’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, he returned with members of his family to honour the institution’s legacy and acknowledge the service of volunteers.
For those who have served here, the journey has been deeply personal. “It felt like a family reunion,” explained Jawed Syed, a member of the administrative staff, speaking of the 100 year anniversary celebrations. “We were not just celebrating a building, but we were honoring a century of humanity.”
Today, the hospital is not only a landmark of the past, but also a beacon of hope for generations yet to be born. Newborn cries echo down the corridors just as they have for decades, and that sound will fill them for the next 100 years.
Kharadar’s narrow alleys still buzz with rickshaws and street vendors. Each time an expectant mother walks through the tall teak doors, they are walking through history. But they’re also walking into their future.
https://the.ismaili/us/en/news/a-centur ... beginnings
Re: AGAKHAN HEALTH SERVICES
Princess Zahra Pavilion
At Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, we understand how difficult it is to be away from home during your most vulnerable moments.
The Princess Zahra Pavilion (PZP) our premier inpatient facility, has been specifically designed to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible for you and your family. A team of devoted professionals, advanced technology and elegant facility epitomize the best in holistic healthcare, providing an ambience of graceful comfort.
The Princess Zahra Pavilion is the first facility of its kind in the East African region, housing premier, five star inpatient facilities in a serene environment. PZP has 61 private rooms with a choice of three options: Standard Room, VIP Room and Executive Suites.
Princess Zahra Pavilion Executive Wing
Our VIP rooms have an elegant finishing and interior décor. The room has a visitor’s lounge away from patient room. It’s designed to provide a homely environment for both the patient and family.
VIP Executive Room
Each of our rooms is fitted with:
- Air conditioning
- A safe to store valuable items
- Elegant and modern decor
- Patient health monitoring systems
- Telephone and smart TV
- Cabinet to store laggage and clothing
- Free Wi-Fi
Waiting Lounge
Princess Zahra Pavilion Postnatal Accommodation
After birth, you are welcome to use a Pavilion room for your postnatal stay. The Maternity Unit midwives will attend to you and your baby along with your obstetrician and paediatrician.
Additional Support Services at the Princess Zahra Pavilion
The Princess Zahra Pavilion also offers a range of supporting services to patients and their visitors including:
- Java House restaurant
- Hair salon
- Gift and flower shop
- Transport services (on request)
- International banking services from the Diamond Trust Bank
- Support from our Patient Referral Centre for patients travelling from outside the country.
Quick links
Patient rights and resposibilities information https://hospitals.aku.edu/nairobi/Depar ... OCHURE.pdf
Contact us
Telephone: +254 (0) 111 011 888 or +254 (0) 730 011 888
https://hospitals.aku.edu/nairobi/Servi ... ilion.aspx