His Highness the Aga Khan is honoured by DSM Mayor Kleist Sykes during the laying of a foundation stone for the second phase of Aga Khan Hospital in DSM yesterday.The Aga Khan was made an honorary resident of DSM City at the function.(Photo: Emmanuel Kwit)
Visiting Ismaili Muslim leader, the Aga Khan, has unveiled plans to provide advanced specialised healthcare services in East Africa at subsidised rates for the poor.
The spiritual leader announced the plans yesterday at a ceremony to lay the foundation stone of the second phase of the construction of Aga Khan Hospital held in Dar es Salaam.
The Aga Khan told his audience, who included President Benjamin Mkapa, cabinet ministers and ambassadors that a network will soon be established to link all Aga Khan hospitals in East Africa.
“In a very short time from now, our hospitals in East Africa will be networked to provide advanced specialised care, which we will subsidise for the poor as well as high quality education in medicine and nursing,” he said.
He said that health institutions in the region should not be expected to do much if significant investments in health education and equipment were not made in the sector.
“We are building a regional hub of quality medical and nursing services in Dar es Salaam.
This hospital will be part of what amounts to a regional teaching network,” said the Aga Khan.
The second phase of the Aga Khan hospital is intended to provide excellent training combined with the best facilities to increase specialised medical services.
He said that investments would focus in medical education in addition to healthcare.
He added that on completion of the second phase, the hospital would be part of a regional teaching network, linked with the Aga Khan University of Health Sciences Faculty, School of Nursing and Teaching Hospital in Kenya.
“Bringing better healthcare to Tanzanians is a significant task that requires major commitment of educators and healthcare providers and governments throughout the region,” the Aga Khan said.
As Africa’s needs in healthcare were massive, the spiritual leader suggested that experts should focus their attention in research for HIV/Aids and malaria.
Health Minister Anna Abdallah commended the Aga Khan Hospital administration for investing in the advanced technology.
She said her ministry was laying strategies that would create an avenue for participation of private healthcare provision, including non-governmental organisations and religious institutions in the planning and implementation of health issues.
The Aga Khan Hospital Services Dar es Salaam Board Chairman, Shabir Abji, said the second phase included five new hi-tech operating theatres and 12-bed Intensive Care Units (ICU).
President Mkapa laid the foundation stone to mark commencement of the second phase construction, along with the Aga Khan and his daughter, Princess Zahra.
SOURCE: Guardian