Aga Khan University set to expand

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nation.com.pk/sp-health/09-Apr-2014/aga-khan-university-introduces-advanced-blood-testing-system

Aga Khan University introduces advanced blood testing system

April 09, 2014, 3:52 pm



KARACHI- The Aga Khan University clinical laboratories have introduced an automated hematology system, the first of its kind in Pakistan. The new automated equipment having a capacity to test 150 samples per hour has not only enhanced the accuracy of results but also increased the turnaround.

Hematology, the study of blood and blood diseases, is critical in the diagnosis and treatment of a large number of diseases and the new system is facilitating doctors in prompt diagnosis and treatment of their patients.

Introducing this system in the section of hematology was a daunting endeavor since laboratory diagnostics is a constantly evolving field. Therefore, this system has been designed to meet current testing needs and is also configured to handle future demands, said Dr Bushra Moiz, Associate Professor, Pathology and Microbiology.

According to Dr Mohammad Khurshid, Professor of Haematology, initiation of advanced automated services in hematology at AKU will provide patients with rapid results of their tests and assist physicians to interpret results in the light of more reliable clinical information.
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https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article ... d-services


Museveni lauds Aga Khan Hospital for good services
By Standard Reporter Updated Thursday, July 10th 2014 at 21:52 GMT


President Yoweri Museveni has commended the Aga Khan University Hospital for its investment in healthcare provision. Speaking when he toured the institution's Acacia Medical Centre during the official opening of the Acacia Mall where the medical centre is situated, Museveni urged the hospital to expand its services. The clinic is one of 49 satellites across East Africa, with four already in Kampala. The facility offers general consultation, dental services, diagnostic imaging services including general X-ray and ultrasound, laboratory services and a well-stocked pharmacy.
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H.H. The Aga Khan and Princess Zahra in Arusha

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H.H. The Aga Khan and Princess Zahra in Arusha

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2014 - Aga Khan University Wins Library of the Year Award

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http://www.coastweek.com/3742-culture-03.htm

Wednesday, 5 November 2014

Aga Khan University Wins Library of the Year Award

Coastweek-- The Aga Khan University library has emerged the overall winner of the “Maktaba Award” (Library of the Year Award) for 2014.

This award was presented to the University at a colorful ceremony presided over by Dr. Auma Obama (President Obama’s sister) at the Louis Leakey Auditorium, National Museums of Kenya.

The Aga Khan University (AKU) took top honors in the Academic Libraries category and also scooped the overall prize for “Kenya Library of the Year”.

The selection covered 77 libraries who had submitted entries for the prize.

Peter Gatiti, the Aga Khan University Regional Librarian, explained, “The AKU library won over much larger university libraries essentially because of the quality of services provided, advanced use of technology and the services we render to the community beyond AKU. The selection process was rigorous and involved a series of impromptu visits, interviews with staff and library users, as well as a detailed examination of the services provided.”

The Maktaba Award is organized and supported by the Kenya Library Association, the GOETHE INSTITUT, Book Aid International, Worldreader, The Ministry of Sports, Culture and the Arts, Jomo Kenyatta Foundation and Radio Africa Group.

The award aims to recognize excellence in the provision of library and information services in Kenya. The introduction of a national library award in Kenya was driven by the realization of the key role that information plays in the modern world and the fact that Kenya is part of the global information society.

The library received a 50,000 Ks cash prize and a plaque for the “Academic Library of the year” award. For the Maktaba award (Overall Library of the Year), it received a trophy, a further 300,000 Ks cash award, an online label printer and 200 books in life sciences.
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Operation successful: Conjoined twins separated through surgery at AKUH

http://tribune.com.pk/story/804219/oper ... y-at-akuh/

KARACHI: Two conjoined twins have been successfully separated after a surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital, the first of its kind at the hospital and in Karachi.

Their parents I*, a police official, and U*, residents of Pano Akil, expressed their delight after the successful surgery as they had lost all hope of having the procedure done.

Conjoined twins are rare, their estimated incidence is one in 250,000 of live births. In this particular case, S* and M*, were joined from the lower breastbone to the upper abdomen, and shared a liver.

For the first two weeks of the girls’ lives, I* went from doctor to doctor looking for help. He even travelled to Karachi, where doctors at a hospital told him that nothing could be done at the time and to return when the girls were older. Distressed but not defeated, I* returned home with his daughters.

When the girls were around three and half months old, I* and U* once again found themselves in Karachi where a doctor referred them to the Aga Khan University Hospital.

“When we received the two girls, we were happy to see that at least one of them had been progressing at par with other children in the same age group,” said Dr Zafar Nazir, the paediatric surgeon who treated the twins.

Dr Nazir is optimistic about their future though one of the twins, with a congenital heart defect, will have to return for further surgery.

The girls were admitted and a multidisciplinary team of paediatric surgeons, radiologists, cardiologists, anaesthesiologists, paediatricians, nurses and operating room technicians was drawn together to discuss possible surgical scenarios and equipment. The team comprised around 45. The planning phase of the surgery took about a month and a half in which the group broke up into smaller specialised teams, each with a particular role in the surgery. A day before the actual surgery, the teams did a full ‘dress rehearsal’ to check if all aspects of the procedure had been addressed.

On December 1, a 20-member surgical team headed by Dr Nazir, and assisted by Dr Arif Mateen Khan, Dr Saqib Qazi and Dr Ahmed Vaqas (paediatric surgery), Dr Fauzia Khan, Dr Faisal Shamim and Dr Hamid (paediatric anaesthesia) performed the seven-hour procedure. Five days later, the girls were shifted to the special care unit of the paediatric ward.



For U* and I* there is a reason to hope once again that their daughters will grow up to live normal and happy lives. “We were told that this was not possible in Pakistan,” recollects U*. “But my husband and I clung to the hope that somehow, somewhere we would find a cure, and we did when we came to this hospital.”

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the family
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EBM donates 200M to AKUH for NICU expansion

The Aga Khan University Hospital inaugurated its newly expanded Neonatal Intensive Care Unit today with the support of English Biscuits Manufacturers (Pvt.) Limited. The expanded NICU will offer emergency, inpatient and intensive care treatments for babies born early, providing the best possible specialised care to its neonate patients.

EBM has generously funded the Rs 200 million expansion, and are the first partners in the Aga Khan University and University Hospital’s effort to increase private fundraising to expand its academic and clinical facilities at its Stadium Road campus.

“Welcoming a baby is such an exciting time. For parents of babies born early, however, it is a time of anxiety. Families and their new additions need specially trained medical staff, special equipment and special understanding to survive this period. We are delighted to partner with AKUH on this initiative,” said Dr Zeelaf, Chairperson, EBM at the inaugural ceremony. “We, as a company, have always been conscious of our social responsibility and have endeavored to institutionally strengthen initiatives for public welfare.”

Every year, 600 babies are referred to the NICU - from AKUH and other hospitals in the city - because many babies are born early, with low birth weights or with complications - are at risk for a variety of neurologic and developmental problems in childhood.

The Level III NICU at the University Hospital, gifted by Rashada and Khawar Butt of EBM, provides the highest level of care for critically small or ill newborns. There are four wards with five incubators in each, four isolation rooms with two isolation rooms for babies with infections and two ‘negative’ isolation rooms for babies with communicable infections. The new 9,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility will allow the University Hospital to care for more babies at risk.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Muhammad Sohail Salat, Chair, NICU Commission Group, AKUH, thanked the EBM team for this help in meeting the specialised needs of preterm babies in the city. He spoke of how the new NICU, with double the number of beds and nursing staff, has realized University Hospital’s vision of helping more than 1,000 pre-term newborns every year, allowing the hospital to apply new technological advances in newborn intensive care in a family-centered environment.

“We are extremely grateful for this magnificent donation from EBM. This was the first gift in our campaign to raise substantial funds from the corporate sector in Pakistan for the University Hospital,” said Firoz Rasul, President of Aga Khan University. “Such generosity enables us to initiate specialty and acute care services to provide world class healthcare in Pakistan.” PR
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capitalfm.co.ke/news/2015/03/aga-khan-hospital-steps-in-to-ease-knh-cancer-care-crisis/

Aga Khan Hospital steps in to ease KNH cancer care crisis

By SIMON NDONGA | March 26, 2015

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 26 – The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) is set to provide 400 radiotherapy treatment sessions free of charge to cancer patients following a breakdown of radiotherapy machines at the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), to lessen the crisis there.

The Director of Medical Services Nicholas Muraguri pointed out that the sessions will be for patients whose treatment was interrupted by the breakdown of equipment at KNH.

“Following the breakdown of the radiotherapy machines at the Kenyatta National Hospital last week, the Ministry of Health begun negotiations with private hospitals to provide radiotherapy treatment to cancer patients whose treatment was interrupted by the breakdown,” he stated.

Muraguri revealed that the private hospital is also working closely with KNH to identify needy children on the waiting list in order to provide them with the treatment.

“It is worth noting that AKUH has a long standing working relationship with KNH, whereby cancer patients from KNH are provided with highly subsidized radiotherapy treatment at AKUH. The Ministry is pleased to inform the public that a new Linear Accelerator (LINAC) is being installed. Patients are also accessing radiotherapy treatment in other hospitals,” he said.

A linear accelerator is used for external beam radiation treatments for patients with cancer and is also used to treat all organs of the body by delivering high-energy x-rays to the region with tumours.

Muraguri further indicated that the ministry is working on a financing plan to optimise the existing radiotherapy capacity of the private sector through a public-private partnership arrangement.

“In this strategy, patients from the public sector are going to access radiotherapy treatment facilities in the private sector with support from the national government,” he stated.

KNH is the only public health centre that treats cancer and has only two radiotherapy machines.

A single radiotherapy session at KNH costs Sh500 while private hospitals charge between Sh5,000 and Sh10,000.

The 2014 Economic Survey ranked cancer as the third leading killer in Kenya after malaria and pneumonia.
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New integrated operating rooms at Aga Khan University Hospit

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aaj.tv/2015/03/new-integrated-operating-rooms-at-aga-khan-university-hospital/

New integrated operating rooms at Aga Khan University Hospital

Posted by: Hassaan Ali, Uploaded: 28th March 2015



KARACHI: A new operating theatre suite with three state-of-the-art integrated operating rooms was inaugurated Friday at the Aga Khan University Hospital against a cost of US$3.35 million.

President, Aga Khan University (AKU) Firoz Rasul, addressing an informal ceremony on the occasion said it is the first suite in Karachi with integrated operating rooms (ORs) and part of the University Hospital’s ambitious plans to improve the quality of the health care services and surgical facility it offers.

He also expressed his gratitude to the local donors mainly, Bashir Dawood and his family for their generous donation that made the project possible and said the ORs are part of the Aga Khan University’s campaign to raise funds from the corporate sector in the country so as to improve access to quality health care.

“Bringing this technology enables us to deliver the highest levels of patient care,” said AKU President.

The project, claimed to offer benefits to patients, their surgeons and the teaching community locally and elsewhere in the region, covers approximately 9,600 square feet, comprises the suite with three ORs, six recovery rooms, a holding bay for four patients, a room for families and other spaces.

“These ORs are designed to increase patient safety,” said Dr. Jamsheer Talati, Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Surgery, AKU.

Each integrated OR has centralised control of the environment and features include instant access to patient information, high definition pictures such as x-rays available on large screens, video capture and streaming of the procedure in real time and other systems.

In addition, the ORs have many safety features against infections, reducing the risk of infection for patients.

They are especially beneficial to patients due to their less invasive approach to many surgeries, shorter hospital stays and shorter recovery time.

Surgeons using this operating room can not only record procedures for training purposes, but can also live stream to students and doctors anywhere via the Internet; offering students and others in remote locations, opportunities to enhance their learning experience.
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Find a Top Master of Science in Nursing Program

The 25 Most Amazing Modern Hospitals in the World


17. Aga Kahn University Hospital

Karachi, Pakistan

Image Source
Established in 1985 as the University’s primary teaching hospital, the Aga Kahn University Hospital is located on a 65-acre site with medical and nursing schools, housing for staff and students, and a mosque. Envisioned by Payette Architects, the hospital’s design carefully considers Karachi’s natural environment as well as the region’s cultural setting and values. With 721 beds, the hospital seeks to promote human welfare and the spread of knowledge to the people of Pakistan.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aga_Khan_U ... l,_Karachi
http://www.aku.edu/collegesschoolsandin ... -home.aspx

http://www.bestmasterofscienceinnursing ... hospitals/
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1st lady to lobby for equipment

First Lady Esther Lungu says she will continue to engage President Edgar Lungu for continued upgrade of equipment for cancer treatment in Zambia

Mrs. Lungu says it is important that facilities pertaining to treatment of cancer are well equipped.

The First Lady was speaking to ZNBC’s Pennipher Nyirenda after touring the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi with other First Ladies that are part of the 2015 stop cervical, breast and prostate cancer conference in Nairobi, Kenya.

Mrs. Lungu who was impressed with the facilities at the Aga Khan Hospital heart and cancer surgery center expressed delight that the Ministry of Health team led by Deputy Minister Chitalu Chilufya were also able to see the facilities available.

Mrs. Lungu is later expected to join other first ladies for a state banquet at State House hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his wife Magaret

http://www.znbc.co.zm/?p=17250
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Govt backs Master of Medicine programme subsidy

19th August 2015EmailPrint
Dr. Mustaafa Bapumia, Medical Director at Aga Khan hospitalThe government has been commended for efforts to increase the availability of medical specialists in the country saving Tanzanians the expensive trip abroad for treatment through the Master of Medicine programme.


“The government is working hard to increase the number specialists and we are happy to partner with the ministry to meet this goal,” said Dr. Mustaafa Bapumia, the Medical Director at Aga Khan hospital.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday in Dar es Salaam, he said the Aga Khan University (AKU) in partnership with the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam has expanded their Post Graduate Medical Education (PGME) to now include Master of Medicine programmes (MMed) in Surgery and Internal Medicine.

“These are in addition to the already existing Master of Medicine programme in Family Medicine,” he detailed.

The director said to efficiently conduct the new programmes, the hospital and university must expand their facilities to accommodate the students and allow for supervised hands on training.
He commended the French Development Agency for their 100bn/- soft loan support handed to fund the expansion efforts.

“Another 60bn/- was granted by His Highness the Aga Khan,” he added.
Dr. Bapumia said of the funding, 7bn/- will go into a training programme for Tanzanian cardiologists, oncologists and nurses.
He also noted that Aga Khan University has been training Tanzanian medical students since 2005 adding to the country’s number of specialists.

Present at the conference was one such graduate who is now a specialist at the Muhimbili National Hospital, Dr John Rwegasha, head of the gastroenterology and herpetology department at the hospital.

“The training and care I received at the university has got me to where I am...the doctors here are renowned and respected for excellence and as such I was well received when I applied elsewhere,” he attested.

Dr Nuruddin Lakhani, Paediatrician and Director of Post Graduate Medical Education explained that the University’s admissions policy is merit based and highly competitive, accepting applicants from across East Africa.

“The commencement date for the new programmes will be January 2016 and the duration of training is 4 years,” he detailed noting that applications are open until August 28th, 2015.

“The University is committed to increasing capacity and strengthening healthcare systems in Tanzania through high impact training programmes. Applicants from Tanzania are thus encouraged to apply,” he said.

Dr Lakhani further noted that the training is practice based and residents will receive a stipend plus benefits. Graduates will be trained to take up leadership roles in raising the quality of care and strengthening health systems.

Summing up, he announced that the university and hospital are planning an open day that is for interested candidates to view the facilities and meet the staff and residents.

The Internal Medicine and Surgery programmes were recently approved by the Tanzania Commission for Universities this following the Aga Khan University receiving full charter as an International University in Tanzania.

The recent and ongoing expansion of Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam to provide tertiary care services will further enhance its clinical programs. Comprehensive cardiology, oncology and neurosciences will be added to the existing services in diagnostic, women and child health, trauma and critical care.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

http://www.ippmedia.com/?l=83455
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80,000 patients being treated at AKUH annually: Kedzierski

* AKUH director general says no other 760-bed hospital even in the US or Canada serving that high number of patients

Staff Report
September 04, 2015
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KARACHI: Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) Karachi Hans Kedzierski has said that the hospital is serving more than 80,000 patients yearly, adding that no other hospital of 760 beds even in the US or Canada was serving that high number of patients.

He was speaking at a programme titled ‘Aga Khan University Hospital (Karachi): human, scientific, ambitious’, jointly organised by 21st Century Business & Economic Club (21st CBEC) and Overseas Universities Alumni Club (OUAC).

Former National Assembly speaker and prominent politician Elahi Baksh Somoro was the chief guest on the occasion.

Kedzierski discussed many aspects of the hospital and told the participants that the AKUH was expensive but “we say the treatment we provide is more valuable than the charges we receive”.

“Our clinics are serving more than a million patients yearly. We have 1,220 collection points all over the country and they carry out nine million tests per year.”

He said that the hospital staff were very much competitive and “we try our level best to give the best possible treatment to our patients”. He said that nurses trained at the hospital’s attached nursing school were of international standard.

During the question and answer session, he praised the AMAN ambulance service and also noted the suggestions given by the audience. Replying to a question, he said that it was possible to create hospital like AKUH, “but how will you get the experience of 36 successful years?” Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Chairman SM Muneer also appreciated the services of AKUH. He said it was the best hospital he had ever been to in the country.

He said that the AKUH had a wonderful system of utilising Zakat for the treatment of poor people. He further said the because of government efforts, the situation of law and order was improving in Karachi and “I hope it will improve in coming days”.

He also congratulated law enforcement agencies and the army for eradicating Taliban and extremists from South Waziristan and other areas. The programme was attended by many dignitaries of the city, including councils general of France and Switzerland. Chief Guest Elahi Baksh Somoro and AKUH CEO Hans Kedzierski were given shields.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/sindh/04-S ... kedzierski
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AKU tops HEC ranking for medical universities

May 26, 2015

Aga Khan University has maintained its position as the top medical university in Pakistan in the Higher Education Commission’s latest ranking of public and private universities in the country.

The parameters considered in a comprehensive selection process included quality assurance, teaching quality, research, finance and facilities, and social integration or community development.

To demonstrate standing by subject, HEC ranked universities in six categories, which included general, engineering and technology, business education, agriculture and veterinary, medical, and arts and design.

In the medical category, AKU was ranked the best followed by the University of Health Sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Riphah International University, Isra University, King Edward Medical University, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, and Ziauddin University.

Announcing the rankings at a ceremony, Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, Chairman, HEC, said that ranking universities was a global practice undertaken to fuel competition in education, research and innovation.

Further details....

http://www.hec.gov.pk/InsideHEC/Divisio ... al_Doc.pdf
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University donates 234 books to cultivate reading culture

The AKU’s Institute for Educational Development in East Africa (IEAD-EA) Director, Prof Joe Lugalla, said in the city over the weekend that reading culture aims to expand scope of knowledge.

“The books donation is part of our literacy project to six primary schools located in Dar es Salaam,” said Prof Lugalla during a ceremony to hand over the books.

The event was attended by teachers and pupils from two primary schools of Mnazini and Mwananyamala B. He mentioned other primary schools who benefited from the project as Mwananyamala B, Chang’ombe, Msasani A and B plus one which is yet to be selected.

Mr John Kavutwa, who is a Reading Club coordinator at Mnazini Primary School, said lack of library at Mnazini Primary School remains a major challenge to the literacy project which started in 2013.

“The literacy project has sharpened the reading skills of our pupils. But lack of library poses a challenge for preservation of the books,” he said. Mwananyamala B Primary School Head Teacher, Mr Emmanuel Temba, whose school is one of the beneficiaries of the literacy project, pointed out that the literacy project has uplifted the academic progress at the school.

“Our school has excelled by 100 per cent in previous national examinations thanks to the literacy project,” he observed. The literacy project coordinator at AKU, Prof Mary Oluga, said the project worth 15,000 US dollar (about 30m/-) has helped to develop social skills, adding that the project has helped to engage pupils and their parents in reading.

“Under the project parents have to read stories for their little kids while children in standard two and above have to read stories to their parents at home,” she said.

http://dailynews.co.tz/index.php/home-n ... ng-culture
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A RENEWED FOCUS ON TEACHER, TEACHING QUALITY AND LEARNING
LOCALISED MODELS AND PRACTICES



CONFERENCE THEME ​ KEYNOTE SPEAKERS


The theme selected for this year's conference is "A Renewed Focus on Teacher, Teaching Quality and Learning: Localised Models and Practices". Considering the vital impact of quality education experience on learning, the conference calls for “renewed focus” on three principal pillars of educational system including: teacher, teaching quality and learning. It aims to generate a comprehensive discourse on the three key elements with a particular focus on localised models and practices and associated challenges and opportunities for their implementation. Read more...

http://www.aku.edu/events/iedpk-intl-co ... /home.aspx
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New techniques: Develop new educational practices to boost learning, say experts

KARACHI:
If Pakistan wants to improve people’s lives and boost economic development, teachers must be prepared to develop innovative practices tailored to the needs of their learners, said experts at the 10th International Conference organised by the Aga Khan University’s institute for educational development (IED).

The three-day conference will host over 100 workshops, plenary sessions and presentations.

For quality education, a renewed focus on the three pillars of an education system – teachers, teaching quality and learning – has to be part of the education system, said experts at the conference. Only then can Pakistan take steps towards achieving the new global Sustainable Development Goals on education – to ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning.

World leaders may have committed themselves towards ensuring that all children, regardless of their background, achieve relevant and effective learning outcomes but there is an on-going debate on what comprises relevant and effective learning and how this can be measured, said keynote speaker Dr Pauline Rose, professor and director of international education and research at the University of Cambridge.

Dr Rose suggested working towards a universal target that ensures that all children – regardless of their wealth, gender, or disability – complete primary school and achieve the basics in reading, writing and mathematics. What is important is adopting a “stepping-stones” approach to assessing progress for the most deprived, she asserted. “Where do we need to get to in the next five years and in the five years after that? If we don’t stagger our assessments, we will lose sight of the most disadvantaged,” she predicted.

The quality of teaching can be improved by incorporating the best practices from around the world but it is critically important that these practices are not transposed without understanding the students and their cultures, cautioned experts.

IED director Dr Sarfaroz Niyozov said that worldwide, education is witnessing a reinvigoration of indigenous knowledge and models, a welcome change in countries with rich historical and cultural traditions of teaching and learning such as Pakistan. Equally important is that one should not fall into the trap of romanticising the indigenous but assess “local models for their quality, equity and inclusivity”, he said.

“Teachers’ openness to and capacities for learning from multiple sources and challenging perspectives is the key to survival of teaching as a respectable profession and teachers as esteemed professionals,” he claimed.

The conference’s first day hosted several concurrent sessions covering 24 presentations and two symposia on subjects ranging from understanding teachers’ sense of self-efficacy to transforming children from passive recipients to active participants through activity-based learning in primary schools in the coastal belt of Sindh.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 20th, 2015.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/994911/new- ... y-experts/
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AKU Convocation 2015: graduates urged to strengthen civil society

November 28, 2015

“I know how desperate Pakistani youth is for role models and I wish they had more,” said Dr Ruth Pfau, founder of the Mary Adelaide Leprosy Centre, while addressing the 412 graduands from 36 cities in Pakistan and 4 countries being awarded degrees and diplomas at the Aga Khan University convocation in Karachi today.

She spoke of how young people respond to individuals perceived to be exemplary, whom they can admire, respect and be influenced by, if you “give them somebody who they would like to follow, they will follow.

http://www.aku.edu/aboutaku/news/pages/ ... -2015.aspx

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412 students graduate from AKU

KARACHI: Attired in green and white gowns, 412 students of Aga Khan University’s (AKU) medical college and Institute of Educational Development received their diplomas on Saturday morning.

The fresh graduates had gathered at AKU’s cricket ground, which was transformed into a convocation hall, to receive their entry pass into the real world at the varsity’s 28th convocation. The ceremony began with the academic procession led by the chief guest, social worker Dr Ruth Pfau, the deans and faculty members of various schools, followed by the graduates.

A total of 95 doctors graduated from the medical college with degrees in Bachelor’s of Medicine, Bachelor’s of Surgery (MBBS). They stood in front of the deans as they took the oath promising to serve people to the best of their abilities.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1000343/int ... -from-aku/

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​A first in Pakistan: AKU opens Centre for Innovation in Medical Education

CIME represents an investment in academic excellence at the Aga Khan University. Pakistan’s first medical simulation centre with a range of patient manikins uses modern methods and realistic environments for intensive training to produce health professionals with excellent assessment and treatment techniques. Its opening ceremony drew acclaim from local educators and media.

A wheezing two-year-old is brought to the emergency room. Attached to a monitor, his lips are beginning to turn blue and he is having difficulty breathing. Nursing students have just four minutes to correctly diagnose and resuscitate the child simulator. Across an observation window sits a faculty member who records her observations on managing a critical patient to share with the young students at the end of the one-hour session.

In a seemingly simple room a group of 12 medical students sit and discuss their latest case scenario on sepsis. As they work through the problem, one of them writes and saves notes on a 55-inch touch screen. An examiner, on the other side of an observation window makes a record – on teamwork, problem-solving and cognitive thinking – to share with the students.

“Welcome to the Centre for Innovation in Medical Education. Thirty years ago, when I was in medical college, my training was exclusively based on on-the-job exposure. We didn’t have simulators, we didn’t have clinical case discussions, we rarely ever received feedback on how we responded to a situation,” said Dr Farhat Abbas, Dean, Medical College, Aga Khan University. He was speaking during the inaugural ceremony of CIME.

http://www.aku.edu/aboutaku/news/pages/ ... -cime.aspx
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Aga Khan Hospital uses diamond drill to clear clogged arteries -

November 30, 2015 Cardiologists at the Aga Khan University Hospital have broken new ground in heart procedures by using a diamond drill to unblock a heart artery which was too hard to open with a balloon treatment alone. An elderly patient from Uganda became the first patient to undergo this procedure in the region when it was performed and remains in a good state of health after he received this treatment, the hospital says. Dr Mohamed Jeilan, a cardiologist at the hospital's heart and cancer centre, said: “Among heart attack patients with blocked coronary arteries, balloon expansion (or angioplasty) at the site of blockage has been the mainstay of treatment for more than two decades.” But in many patients, the vessel wall is hardened and the blockages are very long. In these patients, balloon inflation is unable to relieve the obstruction. -

More...
http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/aga-khan ... d-arteries

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Rewarding excellence in education

AKU-EB hosts the high achievers awards 2015


One hundred and fifty-six students including position holders from cities across Pakistan were recognized for their outstanding performance in the Secondary School Certificate and Higher Secondary School Certificate examinations, held by the Aga Khan University Examination Board, at a high achievers award ceremony in Karachi today.


“These students demonstrated phenomenal performance. AKU-EB graduates have earned admission in prestigious universities in Pakistan and abroad. I am confident that they are aptly prepared for the future and will lead in their respective fields as creative thinkers, problem solvers and lifelong learners,” said Dr Shehzad Jeeva, Director, AKU-EB.

Of the SSC candidates, the overall first position was awarded to Mariam Sajjad, PECHS Girls’ School, Karachi, second position to Asifa Maqbool of the same school and third position to Uzma Dur-Re-Sameen from Maryam Siddiqa Girls’ Higher Secondary School, Chenab Nagar, Punjab.

More...
http://examinationboard.aku.edu/aboutak ... -2015.aspx

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AKU-EB awards its brilliant young students

KARACHI: The Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB) hosted the High Achievers Awards 2015 at its university auditorium on Tuesday.

One hundred and fifty-six students who were position holders from cities across Pakistan were recognised for their outstanding performance in the Secondary School Certificates (SSC) and Higher School Certificates examinations held by the AKU-EB

http://tribune.com.pk/story/997662/lead ... -students/
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AKU – the unfolding vision: Dr Greg Moran, Provost, Aga Khan University

​"AKU’s greatest strengths, now as in the past, are the clarity of its mission and vision and its people.

AKU is at a critical turning point in its history. In short, we are committed to expanding dramatically the number and diversity of academic programmes and the geographic range of communities we serve. I believe we are on a path that will make us a truly unique international university offering a comprehensive range of educational programmes and engaged in first class research."

/ismailimail.wordpress.com/2015/12/07/aku-the-unfolding-vision-dr-greg-moran-provost-aga-khan-university/

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Aga Khan University Professors win Pakistan Academy of Sciences Awards

Sunday, December 06, 2015 - Karachi—Senior neurologist, Prof Mohammad Wasay has been awarded with Pakistan Academy of Science’s Gold Medal 2015 for his medical research in the field of neurology.

According to a press release issued Saturday Pakistan Academy of Sciences (PAS), a premier organization in the country for promotion of research culture confers awards on researchers for their work in nine different categories of science.

Gold medal in health science category was awarded to Prof Mohammad Wasay (Aga Khan University) in recognition of his work for prevention and control of Neurological diseases in Pakistan.

He is the first neurologist in the country to re-ceive PAS Gold medal. PAS Gold medals are considered most prestigious awards of the country and are conferred on scientists with exceptional contribution in the field of research.

Other recipients of PAS Award 2015 include Prof Naveed Khan (Aga Khan University - Karachi) in Biological Sciences, Shahab Memon (LUMS - Jamshoro) in Chemistry, Riffat Nasim (Quaid e Azam University-Islamabad), in Earth Sciences along-with other researchers.—APP

http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=281397
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Aga Khan's new way to treat brain injury

A local hospital has introduced a less invasive method to stop bleeding in the brain without opening the skull.

The procedure, known as coiling, allows the neurosurgeon to access the brain using a catheter inserted through a puncture in the groin or arm to stop, or prevent the bleeding.

The injury is usually caused by a brain aneurysm, the bulging of the weak area in the wall of an artery that supplies blood to the brain.

Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi now becomes the first in East Africa to offer the procedure, which has been used in developed countries since 1991.

Coiling is a much less invasive alternative to opening of the the skull. Aga Khan said they have have now successfully treated two patients: a Kenyan nurse and a European tourist.

Dr Edwin Mogere, an endovascular and skull base specialist at the hospital is the first Kenyan doctor to perform the procedure in the country. He cautioned that brain aneurysm is not widely known yet it’s the leading cause of fatal strokes in Kenya.

“Aneurysms affect about one per cent of the population in Kenya annually (about 400,000), but because most people with the condition do not have symptoms, they usually remain unaware that they suffer from it. About 4,000 of those with larger aneurysms will have ruptures. Only 500 of these are attended to in the six major hospitals in Kenya capable of handling the condition and the remaining 3,500 stay undiagnosed, or misdiagnosed,” he said.

Dr Mogere said if a patient is referred to a neurosurgeon with sudden severe headaches, nausea, or vomiting and fainting episodes, they will be sent for a CT scan or MRI which will show some specific area of bleeding in the brain.

Aga Khan said in a statement they apply coiling through a catheter insterted through the femoral artery in the groin area.

The surgeon usually inserts a hollow plastic tube into the artery and threads it through the body to the brain.

He then uses a guide wire to push a soft platinum wire through the catheter and into the aneurysm. The wire coils up inside the aneurysm, disrupts the blood flow and causes blood to clot. This clotting essentially seals off the aneurysm from the artery.

http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2015/12/ ... y_c1263066
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Aga Khan University Hospital, Smile Train provide free of charge surgeries to kids | Aaj News

KARACHI: Aga Khan University Hospital in collaboration with a local NGO “Smile Train” has embarked upon a scheme to provide free-of-cost cleft lip and palate corrective surgeries to patients belonging to Balochistan.

Dr Fazulr Rehman, consultant plastic surgeon at AKUH sharing details of the initiative here Wednesday said “one hour of surgery can change the life of a cleft patient as it restores the function of the mouth and appearance, allowing a child to enjoy a normal, healthy future”.

In reply to a question, he said ideal time for surgery is 3 months for cleft lips and 6 months for cleft palates.

Mentioning that lives of 16 individuals have been turn around, the senior surgeon said cleft lips and palates are common birth defects in the country with an estimated incidence of one in every 523birth.

They have profound physical and psychological effects as drinking and feeding is difficult and ear and throat infections are common.“

Left untreated, a child with a cleft may have speech and language problems, poor growth due to poor nutrition, often be ignored and lack confidence, said Dr. Fazulr Rehman.

https://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2016/ ... -aaj-news/
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The Kenya Youth Survey Report

January 18, 2016, 9:00 am-2:15 pm | Nairobi, East African Institute

The Aga Khan University’s East African Institute will launch the Kenya Youth Survey Report at an event on January 18. The survey was commissioned by the Institute to understand aspirations, attitudes, concerns and values of Kenya’s a critical segment of the population — individuals between the ages of 18 and 35.

The purpose of the launch is to share the findings of the survey with the youth and other stakeholders, including elected representatives, civil society leaders, development partners, government, business and faith leaders to stimulate dialogue and further debate that could generate practical policy ideas and actions to help prepare the youth for the future.

http://www.aku.edu/events/pages/event-d ... y%20Report

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AKU wins grant to study hypertension in Pakistan

January 7, 2016

The Aga Khan University’s Department of Community Health Sciences and international collaborators have received an award to study ways to lower hypertension in adults living in rural South Asia.

The study will test low-cost strategies by health workers and doctors to lower blood pressure among adults and reduce their risk of heart disease in three key countries – Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – in South Asia where hypertension is a rapidly growing problem. The trial, called COBRA-BPS (Control of Blood Pressure and Risk Attenuation – Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and led by principal investigator Professor Tazeen Jafar from the Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, will study 2500 individuals in 30 rural communities in these three countries over a period of three years.

“Hypertension, or high blood pressure, has reached epidemic proportions in Pakistan, affecting one in three adults 45 years or older,” said Dr Imtiaz Jehan, the principal investigator of the study in Pakistan and an associate professor at AKU’s Department of Community Health Sciences. “ It is largely un-recognized illness and lowering blood pressure can be the single most important way to prevent the rising rates of heart disease and deaths in the country.”

“The study strategies will include providing education in patients’ homes about lowering their blood pressure through diet and exercise, improving referrals to trained doctors using simple checklists, training doctors and nurses in the management of hypertension including the use of low-cost medicines, and having special counters at health clinics to provide tailored assistance for patients with high blood pressure.

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http://www.aku.edu/aboutaku/news/Pages/ ... earch.aspx
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Life Lived: Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, Pakistan’s ex-Foreign Minister and AKU’s Board of Trustees founding chairman

January 26, 2016: Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, Pakistan’s former foreign minister and founding chairman of the Aga Khan University’s Board of Trustees, passed away at the age of 95. He is survived by his wife Begum Tuba Yaqub-Khan and sons Samad and Najib.

After the establishment of AKU – the first private university in Pakistan –Sahabzada became the founding chairman of its Board of Trustees and played a pioneering role in the formation of the University for 16 years until his retirement in 2001.

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Children’s Health Festival

Shaping the Present – Nurturing the Future

January 31, 2016

3:00 pm-7:00 pm | Karachi


Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

A child’s health holds the highest importance in a parent’s life. In a country of high infant mortality rates, the lack of awareness for proper hygiene and healthcare standards or the inadequate access to medical facilities pose a major concern to pediatric and child health.

To increase awareness about children’s health, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi is organizing a Children’s Health Festival. The event will feature free Specialty Clinics for children, fun filled activities like magic shows, photo booth, games and a lot more.

The festival will also host informative health talks by our renowned doctors. Parents and families are invited to attend. The event is free and open to all.

Click here to register online and avoid the hassle of standing in a queue. Your mobile number will be your reference number at the registration desk

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Extraordinary Alumni Gift to Provide Hope for Paediatric Patients

Karachi, January 29, 2016: The Aga Khan University Medical College’s Class of 1999 has donated US$ 350,000 for an Endowment Fund for child care, which will allow the Aga Khan University Hospital to provide financial assistance and support to needy children from semi-urban and rural communities in Pakistan.

At the gift signing agreement ceremony, AKU President Firoz Rasul said that the gift comes at a particularly fitting time in the University’s history. “We have the medical professionals and facilities that allow us to treat premature babies, infants and children with very complex health problems. This contribution to our endowment will help us in treating the sickest and most fragile babies in our Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the only one of its kind in Pakistan.”

He noted that since 2013, the University Hospital has provided Rs 30.5 million to over 3,200 children to access quality healthcare.

Spearheaded by the Class of 1999 representative Dr Babar Hasan and assisted by Dr Rizwan Khalid, Dr Sharmeen Feerasta, Dr Kamran Karimi and Dr Shabana Naz, and the support of 67 per cent of the class, the Paediatric Welfare Endowment will provide hope for the thousands of children in Pakistan, both as hospital patients and in the clinics. It will support children who require heart surgery at AKUH, which is the only centre performing complex surgeries using minimally invasive approaches.

Dr Hasan noted, “Paediatric care is most neglected in developing countries. This is why the Class of 1999 decided to support the Paediatric Welfare Fund. All of us feel that AKU has played a major role in shaping our present - thank you for helping us reach where are today”.

"The Medical College Class of 1999 plans to grow the fund and looks to other alumni to contribute to the fund", he added.

The ceremony was also attended by the class's favourite instructor Dr Perwaiz Iqbal.
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http://www.aku.edu/supportus/donor-reco ... gning.aspx
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AKU-ISMC Presents Professor Said Arjomand: Governance in the Iranian Constitutions of the Twentieth Century

Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations (AKU-ISMC)

Seminar, 25 February 2016 – ​Prof Said Arjomand

Governance in the Iranian Constitutions of the Twentieth Century: A Comparative Perspective​

Professor Arjomand will offer an historical perspective on governance in constitutions in Muslim contexts from the Iranian perspective.

Said Arjomand is Distinguished Service Professor of Sociology at the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook and Director of the Stony Brook Institute for Global Studies. He is the founder and President of the Association for the Study of Persianate Societies and founding Editor of the Journal of Persianate Studies.

Register here to attend in person.
Register here to attend online.

About the Series – Dialogues 2016

Dialogues forms part of ISMC’s Governance for the Public Good in Muslim Contexts Programme, which aims to address the deeply rooted religious and cultural sensitivities prevalent in matters of governance. By making outputs accessible to wider audiences, the programme is committed to encouraging healthy and informed debate among scholars and the public alike. The Dialogues series is a key part of this commitment.

This year the series will focus on the oft-neglected issues surrounding governance in constitutions. We will explore what specificities Muslim contexts offer on governance, given that most of the key issues in constitutional design, forms of government, or decision-making are not necessarily defined by religious beliefs. The full programme is available here.

https://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2016/ ... h-century/
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AKU’s convocation in Kampala

Speaking at the Aga Khan University convocation ceremony in Kampala where he was Chief Guest, Dr Benedict Mtasiwa, Chief Principal, Exchange Programmes, Links and Partnerships, Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) urged East African universities to seize opportunities for dialogue and cooperation across the region to enable a more integrated East African community where students are able to pursue degrees and educational opportunities across borders.

A total o​f 78 students graduated in General Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees and Master of Education. Dr Mtasiwa applauded Aga Khan University as a premier supporter of the Inter-University Council for East Africa. “Indeed, AKU is one of the quality leaders in East African higher education and just as clearly, if one were to look to any university for advice on working across national borders in East Africa, AKU would be very high on the list.”

More and photos at:
http://www.aku.edu/aboutaku/news/Pages/ ... mpala.aspx

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Aga Khan graduates urged to change society

Kampala- Health and education graduates from the Aga Khan University have been told to transform their societies by applying the skills acquired form the institution.

Speaking at the 2016 convocation of the Aga Khan University (AKU) yesterday at Kampala Serena Conference Centre in Kampala, the chairman Board of Trustees of the university, Mr Firoz Rasul, said the graduates have acquired the necessary skills to uplift their societies by providing exemplary leadership.

Mr Rasul told the graduates that it will be a challenge for them to galvanise others to join them in trying to look for solutions to problems faced in leadership.

“I have every confidence in you because the education you have received here in the Aga Khan University has prepared you for leadership. I am confident because of your predecessors, there are many distinguished AKU alumni and have taken it upon themselves to bring new modes of code and action to the places that need them most and to create new knowledge and strategies for overcoming formidable obstacles ,” said Mr Rasul.

Mr Rasul asked government to recognise the contribution of the civil society to the country such as the Aga Khan Foundation.

“Rather than being discouraged, it (civil society) should be embraced as an essential contributor to the public good. It should be seen as the guarantor of good governance. We should see its diversity and peaceful disagreements as a sign of strength and maturity,” he added.

Mr Rasul also noted that the Aga Khan Foundation will improve the professionalism of health practice in the country with the construction of the new teaching hospital, whose plan is already underway.

Dr Benedict Mtasiwa, the chief principal for Exchange Programmes, Links and Partnerships, Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) presided over the convocation.

He challenged Ugandan universities graduates to turn the health problems in the country into opportunities.

Opportunity in challenges
“There are no shortage of challenges in the field of healthcare but knowledge is poor, it allows us to transform the challenges into opportunities, it enables us to see that when a health of a community is poor, that is a chance for us to take what we have learnt and lift that community up,” said Mr Mtasiwa.

Dr Mtasiwa also urged East African universities to seize opportunities for dialogue and cooperation across the region to enable a more integrated East African Community, where students can pursue degrees and educational opportunities.

A total of 78 students graduated in General Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Masters of Education. Dr Mtasiwa applauded Aga Khan University as a premier supporter of the Inter-University Council for East Africa.
“Indeed, AKU is one of the quality leaders in East African higher education and just as clearly, if one were to look to any university for advice on working across national borders in East Africa, AKU would be very high on the list.”

http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/ ... index.html
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AKU convocation in Nairobi

February 10, 2016

​The Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Education has challenged universities in Kenya to become research universities and to increase their funding by selling research-based products.

Speaking at the Aga Khan University convocation ceremony in Nairobi where he was Chief Guest, Hon. Dr Fred Okeng'o Matiang’i urged universities to connect with knowledge commercialisers through technology incubators, to develop entrepreneurial curricula, and to nurture government-university-industry links.

Dr Matiang’i said that the government is making several efforts through the Ministry, including enforcing existing legislation designed to ensure innovative leadership is injected into all institutions of higher learning. They are also introducing criteria for recognising universities on the basis of world class indicators of education quality.

“For us to realise Kenya Vision 2030, the country needs quality university education where the focus is empowering students for real-world challenges they will face after graduation, and not mass university education,” concluded Dr Matiang’i.

A total of 57 students graduated in Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN), Master of Medicine (MMed) and Master of Education (MEd).

In his welcome remarks, AKU President Mr. Firoz Rasul underscored the role of civil society organisations, saying that a vibrant civil society is a sign of national strength and maturity. He encouraged the graduates to volunteer their time, expertise and leadership as members of civil society in order to address critical challenges facing their communities and countries.

A graduand receives her degree from AKU President Firoz Rasul (photo: AKU)

He reminded the graduands to see themselves as agents of change, charged with identifying crucial problems and developing evidence-based solutions urging them to practice at the highest international standards; to think creatively and independently; and to work effectively with individuals from many different backgrounds.

He thanked donors and supporters, with a special mention to the German government, through BMZ and KfW, which are supporting the Graduate School of Media and Communications in Nairobi as well as the University’s Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in Uganda through a €31.2 million grant; the Canadian government, which is providing $31 million to improve pre-primary and primary education, including in the Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties, through the Strengthening Education Systems in East Africa initiative, which involves the AKU’s Institute for Educational Development; The Ford and Rockefeller Foundations and Canada’s International Development Research Centre which are helping to fund the Dialogue Series run by AKU’s East African Institute in Nairobi. The Institute recently released the results of a major survey of East Africa’s youth as part of that project.


Bernadatte Mwikali Ngumi delivers the valedictory speech (photo: AKU)

On AKU expansion, Mr Rasul said that the University plans to construct a new Aga Khan University Hospital in Kampala that will in addition to providing world class healthcare, train specialist doctors, nurses and other health professionals. New medical and nursing education programmes will also be created in Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi.

The university will also construct a modern multi-storey tower on Peponi Road Nairobi that will house the Graduate School of Media and Communications as well as the planned Graduate School of Leadership and Management.

The Aga Khan University, which spans three countries in East Africa alone, has announced plans to invest more than US$ 1 billion in the region over the next 15 years, the largest private investment in higher education in the history of the region

http://www.aku.edu/aboutaku/news/Pages/ ... irobi.aspx

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Aga Khan University graduation ceremony in Nairobi | NTV Kenya Video Report

Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i raised concerns over the small number of people pursuing education and medical degrees, saying the country needs more.

Speaking at the Aga Khan University graduation ceremony in Nairobi, Dr Matiang’i said that due to the huge demand for higher education, the sub-sector was not generating enough skilled manpower.

Video
ismailimail.wordpress.com/2016/02/12/aga-khan-university-graduation-ceremony-in-nairobi-ntv-kenya-video-report/

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Aga Khan University graduation ceremony in Nairobi | Daily Nation Video Report

ismailimail.wordpress.com/2016/02/12/aga-khan-university-graduation-ceremony-in-nairobi-daily-nation-video-report/

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Twitter Report: Aga Khan University’s Convocation in Nairobi, Kenya

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AKU RESEARCH

Generators pose health risk to domestic users


KARACHI:

With summer fast approaching, the residents of Karachi are likely to suffer hours of load-shedding in coming months. While many will painstakingly wait for power supply to resume, others will turn on their generators and continue with their life.

The convenience that comes with having a generator makes it easier to ignore how running them even for a few hours makes the air we breathe harmful. Emitting toxic gases such as oxides of nitrogen and sulphur among other dangerous compounds, generators are a threat to the health of everyone around them.

Faulty generator leaves tourists hanging

“Running a generator regularly in a house is not only harmful to the family but anyone who is nearby including the neighbours because fumes travel freely,” says Dr Zafar Fatmi, associate professor at Aga Khan University.

Fatmi, who heads the research group for environmental health at the university, says people who stay at home such as housewives and young children are mainly at risk. “There are chances of having lung and cardiovascular diseases,” he states.

The threat to health, Fatmi says, depends on the level of exposure. “The placement of the generator is very important; putting it in an enclosed space leads to high level of exposure and increases the risk,” he says.

Load-shedding sparks debate in Sindh Assembly

http://tribune.com.pk/story/1052940/hid ... tic-users/
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The future of AKU’s nursing programme in East Africa

The Faculty of Health Sciences will be located in a new building next to the Aga Khan University hospital in Nairobi.

To meet the needs of the growing population, AKU is expanding its existing, and developing new, academic programmes for its Faculty of Health Sciences for East Africa. Anchored in Nairobi, Kenya, the faculty will prepare doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to address East Africa’s specific health needs while leading the transformation of its health care systems. The new faculty building opens in 2016 and there are plans to open new campuses in Rwanda and Burundi soon after.

Click here to read the story at Storehouse

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Golf 2016

AKU to host golf tournament for a cause


March 20, 2016

7:00 am-1:30 pm | Karachi


Aga Khan University

The Aga Khan University will host a golf tournament for a cause – inviting individuals and corporates to sponsor congenital heart disease (CHD) surgeries of indigent patients – at the Karachi Golf Club. In Pakistan, more than 50,000 infants are born with CHD every year and 15,000 of them are critical cases that require immediate treatment. Funds raised through the tournament will go to the Hospital’s Patient Welfare Programme that has assisted over 1.58 million patient visits with Rs 6.68 billion since its inception in 1986.

For details and registration:

021-3486-2918, 0300-0723000, resource.development@aku.edu

http://www.aku.edu/events/pages/event-d ... olf%202016

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Aga Khan University Karachi hosts golf tournament for healing kids’ hearts

Karachi, March 20, 2016: The Aga Khan University (www.aku.edu) hosted a golf tournament on Sunday at the Karachi Golf Club to raise awareness of paediatric congenital heart disease (CHD).

The tournament raised over Rs 25 million to support families in Pakistan without the financial means to afford the cost of outstanding surgical and medical care.
Zahir Janmohamed, Director General, Resource Development, AKU, and Organiser, AKU Golf Tournament
“This is a part of the Aga Khan University Hospital’s larger Patient Welfare Programme that has assisted over 1.58 million patients with Rs 6.68 billion since its inception in 1986. Seventy per cent of CHD patients at AKUH – some as little as 2.4 kgs – are supported by the programme,” said Zahir Janmohamed, Director General, Resource Development, AKU, and the organiser of the tournament.

Each year, some 50,000 infants in Pakistan are born with CHD. If the disease remains undetected, most children do not survive beyond the first few years of their life.
Participants
“At AKUH, however, CHD patients can find hope. Each year, the paediatric cardiac services team performs more than 250 paediatric cardiac surgeries,” said Dr Babar Hasan, Associate Professor, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. “It is the only programme in Pakistan to be both accredited by Joint Commission International [JCI] and recognised by the International Quality Improvement Collaborative [IQIC].”

Dr Farhat Abbas, Dean, Medical College, welcomed the guests to the tournament. “We are grateful for the support of our partners who are helping us to expand our paediatric cardiac services with an additional 100 CHD corrective surgeries in 2016”.

Several socially responsible corporations and individuals came forward to support this cause. A total of 25 teams played the tournament in a Texas Scramble offering a combination of strategy, skill and camaraderie.

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Neglected public libraries a worrying sign of society’s ills

Experts call for setting up of Sindh Library Foundation to address issues faced by public libraries
Stefan Winkler, Director, Goethe Institu, Pakistan speaking at the seminarMarch 19, 2016

“In a public library you’ll find Faiz Ahmed Faiz, Akbar Allahbadi, Marx, Manto and Rabindranath Tagore next to one another. All of their wisdom has been preserved and is waiting to be discovered,” said Khawaja Mustafa, President, Pakistan Library Association (PLA), Sindh chapter, and Head Librarian, Faculty of Health Sciences Library, Aga Khan University.

Mustafa was addressing a seminar entitled “Public Libraries in Sindh: Importance, Current Status and Challenges” at the Aga Khan University on Saturday which was attended by leading figures from Sindh’s public libraries, representatives from NGOs and Sindh government officials. The seminar was jointly organised by the Aga Khan University and the Goethe Institut.


Khawaja Mustafa of AKU during the session

During the seminar, speakers emphasised the important role played by public libraries in providing the common man with access to knowledge. They commented that outside of public libraries, there was no space that gave citizens the opportunity to acquire knowledge without any barriers of class, religion or qualifications. In a society that is becoming increasingly fragmented on the basis of ethnicity and religion, public libraries are one of the few remaining places where one can engage with differing beliefs, senior librarians stated.

Commenting on the steps needed to improve the state of public libraries, Riaz Ali Khaskheli, Secretary, PLA, Sindh chapter, said: “Our public libraries have been abandoned. We need support to develop a healthy reading culture for our children, youth, women, adults and the elderly.

“Libraries act as the memory bank for our culture and history. These precious ideas need to be honoured and preserved as they are part of our identity as a civilisation. The municipal corporations and provincial government should pay attention to improving these libraries,” he added.


Panelists at the session

During the event, speakers added that there are over a 100 public libraries in Karachi alone but most of them are in a poor state. They also warned that the declining state of public libraries pointed to worrying social trends.

Ayesha Choudhary, Secretary, Defence Central Library, said: “Libraries and information centers in Pakistan need to be on the frontline to contribute meaningfully in combating extremism and promoting awareness of the importance of peace. By using libraries as a platform for exploring the causes and effects of extremism, we can bring about positive change in societal thinking and attitudes.

“Besides academic libraries in educational institutions, community libraries and public libraries are a rare commodity in Sindh. Libraries currently lack the funds to purchase books and are poorly maintained. As a result people find no attraction in coming to libraries in our province. This is especially true in rural parts of the province.”

At the seminar, the AKU’s Khawaja Mustafa unveiled the Sindh Public Libraries Association’s set of proposals to the government to support the province’s public libraries prepared by the PLA Public Libraries Committee, which is chaired by Mr Bashir Ahmed Abro, Director, Liaquat Memorial Library.

The Pakistan Library Association called on the Sindh government to establish a Sindh Library Foundation with an annual budget of Rupees one billion to fund and promote public libraries in Sindh. They stated that the Punjab government was taking a number of steps to further the development of public libraries and encouraged the Sindh government to learn from the progress made by Punjab.


Audience at seminar on Public Libraries in Sindh: Importance, Current Status and Challenges at AKU

The Pakistan Library Association also urged the Sindh government to pass legislation making it mandatory for municipal institutions to allocate two per cent of their annual budgets for libraries in their respective localities.

Commenting on the present state of libraries in Sindh, participants at the seminar mentioned that many public libraries don’t even have a washroom; others don’t have an area for refreshments. This means that patrons cannot stay at the library for a lengthy period of time and have to leave before they complete their research. More funds are also needed to improve the accessibility of information.

Ahmed Ali Shah, Reference Librarian at the Aga Khan University, said: “The best libraries make information easy to access. It is important for libraries to digitise their collections and thereby preserve rare books. By doing this we pass on the gift of reading to future generations.”

Many of the province’s libraries have precious manuscripts that were published before the advent of the digital age. Outside of these libraries it is difficult to access these works and the poor state of libraries means that this knowledge is at a risk of being lost, according to speakers at the seminar. Speakers also stated that problems in accessing materials and the poor state of facilities at libraries caused great inconvenience to scholars.

The seminar was attended by officials from USAID, Goethe Institut and Pakistan Library Association.

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