Princess Zahra Aga Khan

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https://the.akdn/en/resources-media/res ... n-zanzibar

Speech by Princess Zahra Aga Khan at the opening of the Aga Khan Polyclinic in Zanzibar



By Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Tanzania · 25 April 2023 · 4 min

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Your Excellency Mariam Mwinyi, First Lady of Zanzibar;
Honourable Simai Mohammed Said, Minister of Tourism and Heritage;
Your Excellency Nabil Hajlaoui, Ambassador of France to Tanzania;
Honourable Hassan Khamis Hafidh, Deputy Minister of Health;
Madame Robert, Director for Tanzania of the Agence Française de Développement;
Distinguished Guests, Ladies, Gentlemen and Friends,

This project is quite wonderful. It’s wonderful to see a building with the history of this building have a new life, going back to its original purpose.

I am very honoured to be with you here today – this is a milestone in the journey of the Aga Khan Development Network and our Health Services in Tanzania and Zanzibar. We are opening the doors of our first polyclinic in Zanzibar, expanding the Aga Khan Health Services network to the island. Hopefully this facility will provide integrated health to the population, along with our wider system on the mainland.

We are very grateful to His Excellency Dr Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council; and Minister Mazrui; and the Deputy Minister of Health for being with us today; and also the Stone Town Conservation and Development Authority, and their team; and all the Government authorities for their support in enabling us to open this Polyclinic.

Also our sincere thanks to the Agence Française de Développement and the French Government. Our relationship goes back many years and spans many projects around the globe. AFD has been a very valuable partner to us with its international expertise. The Government of France and Agence Française are committed to improving health outcomes in low-income countries, and in East Africa particularly, so thank you very much.

This building has a unique history and it’s going to play an important part for us because as you know this building was first opened in the 1880s to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s reign. Around the same time, my great grandfather opened a girls’ school in Zanzibar in 1905. I believe that was the first Aga Khan girls’ school. So the history of this building and of improving health and education in Zanzibar dates back a very long time, and it's wonderful to see this building return to its original purpose as a dispensary.

Between 1994 and 1996, the Aga Khan Trust for Culture restored the building and then in 2021, the board of the Aga Khan Development Network decided to, in conjunction with the Government of Zanzibar, turn this into an Outreach Health Centre. This was made possible by the Aga Khan Health Services, the Aga Khan Foundation, and also the Agence Française de Développement, and we are very grateful to all our partners.

This is just a very brief history of this building. Doctors Farouk Topan and John Tomaro, who are with us, have authored a fantastic book on this building and the history of healthcare in Zanzibar from the 19th century onwards. Copies are available here and I hope you’ll all have a look later.

This Polyclinic will serve as a comprehensive outreach healthcare centre in Stone Town, Zanzibar, staffed by highly trained family medicine specialists. It will provide emergency and urgent care, enhanced diagnostics, dialysis services and dentistry. It will also provide integrated care through digital health connections with the new hospital in Dar-es-Salaam, as well as in-person consultations by specialists from the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar-es-Salaam in cardiology, oncology, neurology and nephrology and other visiting consultants from the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar.

To stand where we are today, and to see the Old Dispensary re-opened as a polyclinic makes me immensely proud. This isn’t just about using and improving an iconic building, but it’s about bringing 21st-century cutting-edge health services to this health dispensary building and reflecting the evolution of the Aga Khan Health Services and healthcare in Tanzania.

It symbolises our commitment to supporting the Government’s vision for a better tomorrow. By providing affordable, equitable health care services, disease prevention and health promotion, the Polyclinic supports the Zanzibar Development Vision 2050, which aims to provide a sustainable universal healthcare system staffed by skilled healthcare professionals and supported by modern medical technologies and facilities.

Thank you for being with us today and thank you to everyone involved in the planning and construction of this Polyclinic. Thank you to the Project Team, the architects, the contractors, the engineers, and all the other professionals who made this project a reality. Thank you Doctors Topan and Tomaro for the lovely booklet, thank you to the Government of Zanzibar, to the Ministry for Health, to our Tanzanian colleagues.

With this building I think one can say that we can’t forget our roots and our history, and how much this amazing building means to the people of Stone Town and Zanzibar, and it's wonderful to see.

Thank you very much.

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Princess Zahra Aga Khan in Mwanza 2023-04-25



Binti wa Aga Khan atua Mwanza na kuahidi kutangaza Vivutio vya Utalii Mkuu wa Mkoa wa Mwanza Mhe.Adam Malima leo Aprili 25,2023, akiwa ameambatana na Wajumbe wa Kamati ya Ulinzi na Usalama ya Mkoa huo wamempokea Binti wa Mfalme Aga Khan, Zahra Aga Khan ambaye amewasili kwa ajili ya Ziara ya Kikazi ya siku mbili atakayoihitimisha Aprili 26,2023. Binti wa Mfalme Zahra Aga Khan akiwa jijini Mwanza atatembelea na kukagua miradi mbalimbali ya Afya wanayoifadhili na kuitekeleza. Akizungumza baada ya kuwasili Uwanja wa ndege wa jijini Mwanza Binti Mfalme Zahra ambaye pia ni Mwenyekiti wa Shughuli za Afya na Elimu katika Taasisi ya Aga Khan amesema yuko kwenye ziara ya siku saba kwa ajili ya kukagua miradi mbalimbali ya Elimu na Afya ambayo Taasisi hiyo inaitekeleza katika nchi za Tanzania, Kenya na Uganda. "Nimefurahi sana Mwenyezi Mungu kunipa kibali cha kufika tena hapa Mwanza, nakumbuka nilikuwa hapa miaka kumi iliyopita, asanteni kwa mapokezi mazuri, nikiwa Zanzibar juzi pia nilipokelewa vizuri san

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2023, April 24 start of the East African Visit by Princess Zahra with 24th arrival in Dar, 25th Zanzibar and Mwanza: Photos and Videos here

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Princess Zahra on 25 April 2023 at the inauguration of Aga Khan Polyclinic Zanzibar.

VIDEO link:

http://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023-0 ... isit-1.mp4

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Princess Zahra Aga Khan Video 2023-04-15-Mwanza JK

LINKS FOR VIDEOS AT THE MWANZA JK VISIT BY PRINCESS ZAHRA AGA KHAN

https://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023- ... a-jk-1.mp4

https://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023- ... a-jk-2.mp4

https://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023- ... a-jk-3.mp4

https://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023- ... a-jk-4.mp4

https://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023- ... a-jk-5.mp4

https://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023- ... a-jk-6.mp4

CUTTING THE CAKE:

https://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023- ... a-jk-7.mp4

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https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/z ... ar-4213928

Aga Khan commissions new polyclinic in Zanzibar

By Jesse Mikofu

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Unguja. The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), under the Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) Tanzania, has commissioned a polyclinic in Unguja in order to facilitate the provision of and access to health services in Zanzibar,

The polyclinic, which is located in Stone Town, will provide eye services, blood purification, bodily examinations, dental, laboratory and emergency services.

The investment in improving the polyclinic building and purchasing medical equipment was done through a loan of Sh2 billion from the French Development Agency (AFD), whereby it expects to serve 150,000 patients per year.

Speaking during its launch yesterday, the wife of the President of Zanzibar, Mariam Mwinyi, congratulated His Highness the Aga Khan and AKDN for their unique commitment to improve the health and well-being of people around the world, especially in Zanzibar.

"The government is making great efforts to expand the capacity and upgrade quality of health centres and improve the health of its citizens, the priority is to improve the provision of maternal, child and adolescent services," she said.

"We recognize and appreciate the relationship between the Government of Zanzibar and the Aga Khan network, which has lasted for more than 100 years as AKDN has been contributing to reducing poverty and improving education, health and economic development,” she said.

According to Mama Mwinyi, the opening of the Aga Khan Polyclinic is an important investment in health infrastructure that will also help other professionals from Zanzibar hospitals to acquire that knowledge through it.

She asked AKDN to look at how to invest in Pemba as well in basic services while inviting His Highness the Aga Khan to also invest in other economic, heritage and environmental areas.

For her part, Her Highness Princess Zahra Aga Khan said since they started to provide health services in 1929 until now, AKHS will continue to provide quality and sustainable services to people.

She said that in 2021, AKHS served more than one million patients at international standards and hence it will continue to ensure that the best services are provided to the community.

For his part, the Director of Medicine and Health at the AKHS Institute, Dr Harrison Chuwa, said there are 26 polyclics across Tanzania and the Unguja polyclinic is the 27th and that Zanzibar it has been given priority to be installed with all the necessary equipment including CT Scan.

"From the first day we started providing testing services, there has been a shortage of these services here, so we have come to support the efforts of the Zanzibar government," said Dr Chuwa.

He said they will also offer training for professionals.

"We welcome you as, we offer training opportunities, and change technology, doctors from government hospitals are welcome to provide services here and we will also go to those hospitals to do the same," he said.

For his part, the French Ambassador to Tanzania, Mr Nabil Hajlaoui, said they will continue to support the efforts of the presidents due to their plans to prioritize education and health to maintain the cordial relations that have lasted for many years.

The Minister for Tourism and Antiquities, Mr Mohamed Simai, said the polyclic will help provide quality services to tourists visiting Zanzibar.

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https://www.afd.fr/en/actualites/tanzan ... lth-clinic

Agence Francais de Developement: Tanzania: Zanzibar’s New State of the Art Health Clinic

published on 26 April 2023
Health and Social Protection
Africa Tanzania
Polyclinique Aga Khan à Zanzibar

A new health “polyclinic” will provide Zanzibar's one million residents with access to a wide range of health services, from disease detection and health emergencies to enhanced dental care. The Aga Khan clinic, supported by AFD, was inaugurated on 25 April, as part of the drive to expand and improve access to healthcare throughout Tanzania.

Improving access to health care for all

Like much of Sub-Saharan Africa, Zanzibar lacks medical personnel, with just 0.4 doctors per 1,000 people on the island, compared to a world average of 1.6 and close to 4 per 1,000 in the European Union. This shortage of health professionals is causing long wait times and limited access to quality care, sometimes forcing Zanzibaris to travel to the mainland to access specialists.

A new polyclinic seeks to improve access to healthcare, with a team of highly-trained specialists. Inaugurated on 25 April in Zanzibar’s former Stone Town dispensary, the polyclinic will provide Zanzibar's one million residents with access to a variety of health services and the latest technology in disease detection, ophthalmology, cardiopulmonary services, as well as a pharmacy and enhanced dental care.

"The creation of this community health center in Zanzibar and its link with the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam will allow the islanders to access affordable and quality health care on their doorstep," said the French Ambassador to Tanzania, H.E. Nabil Hajlaoui.

Further reading: AFD - Aga Khan Partnership for Improved Healthcare in East Africa


Aga Khan- AFD: a long-standing partnership

The renovation and equipping of this new clinic was financed by AFD, with a loan of 2 billion Tanzanian shillings or €800,000. This is part of a larger project supported by AFD, which features the expansion of the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam. Considered a leading teaching and tertiary hospital, with the goal of managing 35 community health facilities across Tanzania.

Tertiary hospitals provide highly specialized medical care, usually over extended periods, involving advanced diagnostics, procedures and treatments performed by medical specialists in state-of-the-art facilities.
"Our relationship with France goes back many years and extends to many projects around the world,” said Princess Zahra Aga Khan. “The French government and AFD are committed to improving access to health for all, especially in East Africa."

A historic building

The old dispensary was built in 1887 and then leased to the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) by the Zanzibar government in 1990. Between 1994 and 1996, the AKTC restored the old dispensary building.

Then in April 2022, the Stone Town Conservative Development Authority (STDA) approved the renovation of the facility by the Aga Khan Polyclinic, while continuing to maintain it as a historic site.

Aga Khan ensured that the renovation was consistent with the traditional architecture of Stone Town's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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VIDEO: Princess Zahra in Uganda 2023, April 27 Contains extract of speech:

60 acres of land for the AKU Hospital in Nakawa

https://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023-04-27-zahra1.mp4

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5:22 AM · Apr 27, 2023

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The Aga Khan Hospital, Mwanza
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Princess Zahra Aga Khan officially inaugurated The Aga Khan Hospital, Mwanza marking a significant milestone for healthcare in the region. She applauded the significant impact that the unit is making in the delivery of quality healthcare services in the lake region.

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https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/n ... ay-4214380

Janet set to launch Aga Khan University construction today

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Aga Khan University President, Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, speaks to Monitor at the Aga Khan University Hospital construction site in Nakawa, Kampala on April 26, 2023. PHOTO/FRANK BAGUMA

The first phase planned to be completed by 2026 will cost $100m (Shs370b).

Ugandans who have been seeking world-class healthcare at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, can breathe a sigh of relief following commencement of construction of similar facility in Kampala.

First Lady Janet Museveni and Princess Zahra Aga Khan will launch the construction of the state-of-the-art facility in Nakawa, an east outskirt of the Ugandan capital, today.

The developments will comprise an Aga Khan University campus, a teaching hospital and students’ residences.

Once completed, the institution will provide modern facilities for top-end training of health and other professionals and super specialised curative care, with direct dividends for local communities, Uganda and the broader East Africa region.

The training fields for high-quality doctors and resulting patients’ services will include internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology. The university will also train nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.

“I am thrilled to announce that after years of planning and preparation, we have broken ground on the new Aga Khan University campus in Kampala, Uganda,” Aga Khan University President, Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, said yesterday in a communication to staff, students and alumni of the Aga Khan University.

He added: “This exciting project will not only expand our reach and impact as a university, but also provide greater access to education and healthcare for the people of Uganda and more broadly, East Africa.”

First Lady Janet Museveni, who doubles as Uganda’s Education minister, and Princess Zahra Aga Khan, a trustee of the Aga Khan University, will officiate at the commissioning of the construction works certain to significantly change the city’s eastern skyline and modernise the land use.

It is expected that once in place, the range and quality of services offered will enable Uganda government treat its officials at home, saving the country billions currently spent on medical tourism abroad.

Dr Shahabuddin told this publication and its sister station, NTV-Uganda, in Kampala yesterday that the facility will be built in phases, starting with the university hospital, teaching spaces and students’ residences.

The first phase planned to be completed by 2026 will cost $100m (Shs370b), he said, and the institution’s graduates will “use acquired skills and knowledge to improve health care in Uganda and beyond”. In addition, a postgraduate Medical Education Programme will train specialist doctors in different fields including, internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics and obstetrics and gynecology, to beef up the existing team of professionals in Uganda for better service delivery.

Dr Shahabuddin said the Aga Khan University in Kampala, like the one in Kenya, will not only focus on sciences, but teach humanities including media and communications studies.

“We also have a School of Education Development based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and every year, 20 Ugandans go to Dar es Salaam to pursue Master’s degrees in Education. We want to be true East Africans. We have integrated our activities in the health and education agenda of East Africa,” he noted.

He commended President Museveni and His Highness the Aga Khan for providing a visionary leadership in giving the project a greenlight in Kampala and making it part of the fabric of the country’s social development sector.

Speaking at the land grant and initiation ceremony that was held at Kampala Serena Hotel at the initial stage of the project, the then Prime Minister of Uganda, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, said such an investment will address specialised healthcare needs for the country.

“Patients will be attended to from within Uganda, with no need to spend time and money going for treatment abroad,” he said then.

In his comments yesterday, Dr Shahabuddin said education at the Aga Khan University in Kampala will be affordable and support structures for financially-struggling student have been considered.

“I’m very happy to say that with guidance from His Highness the Aga Khan, that money should not be a hindrance to anyone wishing to receive world-class education. There are mechanisms and structures for supporting those who are not able to pay all the tuition,” he said.

Dr Shahabuddin revealed that last year alone, they spent $26m (Shs97b) to provide direct education subsidies.

The Academic Coordinator at Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery Kampala, Ms Caroline Namukwaya, said the new campus would provide an opportunity to health professionals to upgrade to the required advanced standards.

Ms Namukwaya said the Aga Khan University School of Nursing and Midwifery had, since 2001, nurtured and trained several professionals suitably qualified to compete for domestic and international jobs.

The university annually admits 150 students on Nursing and Midwifery programme, and Ms Namukwaya implored the best professionals to serve local communities instead of relocating to work overseas.

Ms Mary Najjuma, Ms Teopista Nakafu and Ms Doreen Twinomugisha – all alumni of the Aga Khan University – praised the institution for its hands-on teaching format that enables transfer of practical skills.

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One Minute with Princess Zahra and Simai Mohamed Said (Minister of Tourism and Heritage)

Zanzibar 25 April 2023

VIDEO: https://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023- ... -zahra.mp4

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2023, April 27: First Lady Janet Museveni and Princess Zahra Aga Khan launch the construction of the state-of-the-art facility in Nakawa, an east outskirt of the Ugandan capital.

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https://www.kfm.co.ug/news/janet-lauds- ... ctors.html

Janet lauds Aga Khan for investing in education, health sectors

Damali Mukhaye by Damali Mukhaye

April 27, 2023

First Lady Janet Museveni, who doubles as Uganda’s Education minister has commended Aga Khan for heavily investing in the education and health sectors of the country.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the commencement of the construction of the Aga Khan University and Hospital, the minister said that both the university and hospital will bring real and healthy competition to the country.

She says the performance of the projects that have been put in place by Aga Khan is excellent. The education minister added that she was happy to learn that the planned university will also provide access to the underprivileged. as it conducts groundbreaking research on issues that affect millions of people.

Meanwhile, Princess Zahra Aga Khan noted that the hospital will provide specialized care to all Ugandans from various walks of life in addition to conducting research on a number of issues affecting the country.

The training fields for high-quality doctors and resulting patients’ services will include internal medicine, surgery, paediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology. The university will also train nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.

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2023, April 27: Agence Francaise de Developpement tweeted this:

https://www.afd.fr/en/actualites/afd-ag ... ast-africa

For 15 years, we have supported the Aga Khan Network @akdn
in #EastAfrica to improve the quality of #healthcare.

The objective: to develop specialised units in infectious diseases, cancer and cardiology in #hospitals.

this link has the VIDEO:

LINK: https://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023-04-27-afd.mp4



AFD-Aga Khan Partnership for Improved Healthcare in East Africa
published on 15 April 2022

AFD and Khan continue to carry out joint operations in East Africa, which expand and improve access to quality healthcare, particularly in Kenya and Tanzania. This partnership is opening doors to high quality care at a time when the global pandemic is putting unprecedented pressure on healthcare systems.

When actors work in teams, they can amplify the impact of their operations. That’s why the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and AFD Group have built a strong relationship over the past fifteen years, notably in healthcare institutions across East Africa.

“AFD Group has partnered with the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) to improve access to quality primary and specialized care,” says Agnès Soucat, head of AFD’s Health and Social Protection Division. “They have bolstered that partnership since 2020 to meet the needs exacerbated by the Covid-19 crisis.”

When the global pandemic struck Tanzania in March 2020, AKDN and AFD signed an agreement to establish a dedicated infectious disease unit at the Aga Khan Hospital, Dar es Salaam and the Aga Khan Primary Medical Centre, Mwanza. “The partnership between AFD and AKDN is based on a shared belief that every human being has the right to access quality health services that improve their lives and help them thrive,” says Dr. Gijs Walraven, Health Director at AKDN.

See also: In Beirut, Accessible Health Care for the Poorest

The Aga Khan Health Network has developed gradually, along with the growth of the partnership. “Many of our health facilities in Kenya and Tanzania started as small clinics focused on maternal and child health,” says Dr. Walraven. “Today, AKDN, through the Aga Khan Health Services and the Aga Khan University, runs a fully integrated health ecosystem in both countries. It’s centered on four main hospitals, two in-patient medical centers, and almost 100 outreach health centers, collectively providing care to nearly 1.8 million people in the region.”

Large-scale projects in Kenya and Tanzania

The AKDN-AFD partnership has also made it possible to implement flagship projects in Kenya.

For example, the partnership has:

Made the Kisumu and Mombasa hospitals into referral facilities serving the local population
Established the world-class Heart and Cancer Centre in Nairobi

In Tanzania, to meet its “immense needs,” AKDN and AFD have been working together to support an innovative anti-cancer project since 2019. The project “brings together public and private players and mobilizes expertise from Institut Curie to improve cancer screening and treatment,” says Agnès Soucat. AFD also provided a grant of €10 million in 2019 to develop the Tanzania Comprehensive Cancer Project (TCCP), a program co-funded with €3.3 million by AKDN.

Through the TCCP project, the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) of Dar es Salaam has been able to use a new ultrasound device to facilitate screening since February 2021. Meanwhile, the Bugando Medical Centre in Mwanza, on the shores of Lake Victoria in northern Tanzania, has just received mammography equipment to improve early detection of cancers in the Great Lakes region.

See the AKDN-AFD partnership in photos

Massive funding to fight serious diseases

“Our partnership with AFD has allowed us to focus on the region’s most critical health challenges,” says Dr. Walraven. Indeed, more than 40,000 cancer cases were diagnosed in Tanzania in 2020 according to WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. In this country of 59.7 million people, nearly 27,000 cancer deaths were recorded in 2020. “The TCCP project will help in improving infrastructure, expanding access to screening and detection services, and establishing a joint research agenda across all levels of the local health sector.”

Over the past 15 years, AFD has provided total funding of more than $120 million to AKDN for the health sector in East Africa. Most recently, Aga Khan hospitals in East Africa were given a grant of €2.3 million from Proparco, AFD Group’s subsidiary dedicated to the private sector, as part of the “Health in Common” initiative. The grant will boost access to healthcare by benefiting the Aga Khan University Hospital, and Aga Khan hospitals in Mombasa, Kisumu, and Dar es Salaam, as well as 94 outreach and medical centers in Kenya and Tanzania.
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https://twitter.com/JanetMuseveni/statu ... 8527818755

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@JanetMuseveni
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of witnessing the beginning of construction on the Aga Khan University Campus and Hospital in Nakawa. This project represents the largest capital investment by the Aga Khan Development Network in East Africa, and will provide healthcare access to all Ugandans while conducting groundbreaking research on pressing issues.

I wholeheartedly welcome the significant contribution made by the Aga Khan Development Network. The university and hospital will undoubtedly bring much-needed competition and excellence to Uganda's healthcare sector. I am grateful to the government of Uganda for providing 60 acres of land for the project, and I acknowledge the unwavering dedication of those who worked to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

My prayer is that the Aga Khan University Campus and Hospital will serve as a beacon of hope for countless individuals seeking life-saving care, a place of joy for babies brought into the world, and a center for personal growth and transformation for future generations who will benefit from quality education.

As we begin this new chapter in our ongoing relationship with the Aga Khan Development Network, we give glory to God for this partnership. The project promises to deliver healthcare of international quality and to nurture exceptional leaders within the sector.

I look forward to the success of the Aga Khan University Campus and Hospital, and I eagerly anticipate its positive impact on our nation's healthcare sector.

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https://sokodirectory.com/2023/04/the-a ... la-campus/

The Aga Khan University Starts Construction Of Its Kampala Campus

By Soko Directory Team / Published April 28, 2023 | 3:36 pm

AKU’s 60-acre campus is located in the Nakawa area, at New Port Bell Road and Jinja Road. It will feature in its first phase a seven-story University Centre, a nine-story student housing building, and the Aga Khan University Hospital, Kampala. The hospital will offer care in nearly two dozen specialties, ranging from family medicine to oncology.

The project represents one of AKU’s largest investments in East Africa to date. This will enable a significant expansion of the University’s existing School of Nursing and Midwifery in Kampala and will also allow the University to begin training medical specialists in fields such as internal medicine and surgery. Construction of the University Centre and student housing is currently underway. Construction of the hospital will start early next year. A four-story ambulatory care building will offer outpatient care in a wide range of specialties in advance of the hospital’s completion.

“We know that through this facility, a new crop of exceptionally skilled and equipped Nurses and Midwives will be available to support the Health Sector all over Uganda in years to come,” said Her Excellency Janet Museveni, Minister of Education and Sports. “We look forward to witnessing this Project succeed, as we experience international quality health care and a new generation of phenomenal leaders in this Sector!”

“The Aga Khan Development Network’s goal in East Africa is to build a network of clinics and hospitals that brings primary care as close to people’s homes as possible, while also linking them seamlessly to advanced care,” Princess Zahra Aga Khan said. “We aim for these facilities to be staffed by highly trained clinicians, equipped with the latest technologies, and prepared to address the region’s changing burden of disease.”

The land for the campus and hospital was generously provided by the Government of Uganda, and speakers expressed their gratitude to His Excellency President Yoweri Museveni for his vision and his strong support of the project. Funding for construction was provided by His Highness the Aga Khan, generous donors, and the Government of Germany’s BMZ and KfW. Valuable support was also provided by the East African Community.

Designed by the award-winning architecture firm Legorreta, AKU’s Kampala campus and hospital will form an important part of the Aga Khan Development Network’s extensive healthcare system in East Africa. AKU and the Aga Khan Health Services operate five hospitals and almost 100 clinics that care for more than 1.5 million patients annually in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

“We look forward to seeing the University train generations of future leaders in nursing, medicine, and other disciplines on this campus and to seeing the hospital provide international-quality health care in a wide range of fields,” said Ms. Cornelia Penzel, KFW Country Director for Uganda. “We are positive that AKU will continue to grow in scope, excellence, and in impact.”

AKU has been active in Uganda for 23 years. In Kampala, it has graduated 1,300 nurses and midwives who are working in government and private-sector institutions in urban and rural communities across the country. Several hundred Ugandan teachers and journalists have graduated from or are enrolled at AKU and more than 2,000 have completed short courses. The University also operates three medical centers in Kampala. In total, AKU has graduated more than 4,500 nurses, doctors, teachers, and journalists across East Africa.

“In the years and decades to come, countless lives will be saved and enriched on this site,” said AKU President and Vice-Chancellor Sulaiman Shahabuddin. “We can’t wait to open our doors and show you the new face of AKU in Uganda.”

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https://www.msn.com/en-xl/africa/other/ ... r-AA1asRQC

Janet praises Aga Khan on education and health

Story by Damali Mukhaye •

Education minister Janet Museveni yesterday lauded His Highness the Aga Khan for his pioneering and innovative investments in high-quality education and health services for the underprivileged.Speaking at an event to break the ground for commencement of the construction of an Aga Khan University and teaching hospital in Kampala, Ms Museveni said the institutions will inject competition and revolutionise higher education and specialised healthcare delivery in the country.“The Aga Khan University and the hospital will bring to our country healthy competition because I know that their performance is excellent at whatever work they set themselves to do,” she said, adding, “And it is humbling to learn that this university will also provide access to the under-privileged as it also conducts ground-breaking research on issues that affect millions of people.”The groundbreaking ceremony attended by Princess Zahra Aga Khan was held in Nakawa, the eastern outskirt of the capital where the multi-facility complex will headline a modern skyline.Minister Janet Museveni, who is also Uganda’s First Lady, said the university and hospital will skill a new crop of distinguished doctors, nurses and midwives to undergird the country’s health sector for generations.Describing the building of the university, hospital and students’ residences as the largest current investment of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in East Africa, Ms Museveni said “all of us know [that] AKDN service is not new to our country, it has walked with us for close to 100 years”.“Therefore, it is only right and befitting to thank Princess Zahra in a special way, who came [yesterday] leading His Highness the Aga-Khan’s new blessing to Uganda as we lay yet another brick on the foundation of this partnership,” she added.AKDN brings together nine development agencies whose joint work is dedicated to “improving the quality of life of those in need” through a multifaceted approach.Its development footprints – across health, education, energy sectors and social infrastructure, business and finance and the built environment and cultural preservation – straddle selected countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and South and Central Asia.At yesterday’s ground-breaking ceremony in Kampala, Princess Zahra Aga Khan said that the mission of AKDN in the region, like elsewhere, is to ameliorate the quality of people’s lives by developing human capacity, building resilient communities, generating economic growth, and honouring cultural heritage.“The Aga Khan Development Network’s goal in East Africa is to build a network of clinics and hospitals that brings primary care as close to people’s homes as possible while also linking them seamlessly to advanced care,” she said.The Princess added: “We aim for these facilities to be staffed by highly trained clinicians, equipped with the latest technologies, and prepared to address the region’s changing burden of disease.”She said whereas the Aga Khan University has already graduated more than 3,000 highly-qualified nurses in East Africa, the Kampala campus will add a new four-year bachelor’s degree course for other health professionals.“It will train much-needed medical specialists through its residency programmes in surgery, internal medicine and other fields. Its faculty will pursue scientific research on questions of importance to the region,” Princess Zahra said, adding, “Offering care in two dozen specialties, it will provide families with the peace of mind that comes from knowing that comprehensive, specialised care is available close to home.”Hundreds of Ugandan families with relatively deep pockets have over the years flown their ailing members for specialised care either at the Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya, or elsewhere.Uganda government spends Shs377b a year to treat its eligible officials abroad.Princess Zahra yesterday said that the Aga Khan University in Kampala will aim to achieve the same levels of accreditation as the ones in Nairobi and Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, making it Uganda’s first health facility to achieve the highest international quality accreditation.“Like the other Aga Khan hospitals, it will offer a patient welfare programme that ensures access to care for lower-income patients,” she [email protected] Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

[Admin]

2023, May 2: Aga Khan Studs tweeted that Princess Zahra Aga Khan enjoyed a winner in her colours at Longchamp racecourse in Paris over the weekend. The horse Daradoua trained by Delzangles Mikel is from the family of champion Darjina.

[Admin]

https://the.ismaili/global/news/institu ... stone-town

Zanzibar is renowned for its fragrant spices, turquoise waters, and vibrant culture, but is perhaps most famous for its iconic doorways. At a special event attended by Princess Zahra today, doors opened to the Aga Khan Polyclinic, Zanzibar, a big step forward for healthcare provision on the island.

The new clinic’s home is the ornate ‘Old Dispensary’ on the waterfront in Zanzibar's historic capital, Stone Town. Originally built by the Ismaili pioneer Sir Tharia Topan in the 1880s to address local healthcare needs at the time, it operated for this very purpose until its takeover by the government in the revolution of 1964. After decades of disrepair, the ornate property was carefully restored to its former glory by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in the 1990s.

Its story has now come full circle. At the request of the Government of Zanzibar, the Old Dispensary is now a functioning health centre again, after being transferred to the Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS). The inauguration marks a major expansion of AKHS’s outreach programme, aiming to address the island’s complex healthcare challenges today, including high maternal and child mortality rates and the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases.

“It's wonderful to see this building return to its original purpose,” said Princess Zahra in her address to guests at the event. “The Aga Khan Polyclinic in Zanzibar symbolises our commitment to supporting the Government’s vision for a better tomorrow,” she added.

“By providing affordable, equitable healthcare services, disease prevention and health promotion, the Polyclinic supports the Zanzibar Development Vision 2050, which aims to provide a sustainable universal healthcare system staffed by skilled healthcare professionals and supported by modern medical technologies and facilities.”

Located in the heart of Stone Town, the new clinic is designed to offer a range of services, including emergency and urgent care, enhanced diagnostics, dialysis services, and dentistry. It will also serve as a hub for the provision of specialised care, offering patients high-quality services without having to travel to the Mainland.

One of its remarkable characteristics is the clinic’s presence inside of a listed heritage building, and all the complexities this comes with. All renovations to convert it into a clinical facility honour its legacy: Cutting-edge medical equipment sits alongside intricate 19th-century building features, which remain to this day. The evolving story of the building is recorded in a new publication authored by John Tomaro, former director of health for the Aga Khan Foundation; and Dr Farouk Topan, professor of Swahili culture and grandson of Sir Tharia.

The First Lady of Zanzibar, Her Excellency Mariam Mwinyi, thanked Mawlana Hazar Imam and Princess Zahra “for their exceptional commitment to enhancing the health and wellbeing of communities worldwide and Zanzibar in particular.”

“We recognise and value the relationship of the Government of Zanzibar with the Aga Khan Development Network, which extends over 100 years,” she said.

Illustrating the value of AKHS’s “hub and spoke” model, integrated care will be offered to all through digital health connections with world-class physicians at the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam, as well as in-person consultations for specialties, such as cardiology, oncology, neurology, and nephrology with highly-qualified visiting doctors.

The project was made possible with the support of the Government of France, via their development agency, AFD, which works to fight poverty and promote sustainable development in various parts of the world.

“We talk now about the concept of ‘one health,’ said Nabil Hajlaoui, Ambassador of France to Tanzania, “which means that we cannot enjoy good health in France and Europe and the West in general, and not provide the same level to other partners — Tanzanians and sub-Saharan Africans in general are among them, and we are keen to do all our best to be part of this kind of project.”

The comprehensive out-patient centre is equipped with state-of-the-art medical equipment and operated by a team of highly trained family medicine specialists. It is the newest addition to a network of 25 integrated health facilities in Tanzania that last year provided front-line care to more than 1 million people in the country, explained Zeenat Sulaiman, CEO of AKHS Tanzania. The clinic also aims to drive social and economic development on the island by offering employment and skills-building opportunities to local residents.

Stone Town, with its architecture and urban fabric that brings together African, Arab, Indian, and European influences, was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 2000. Its many fine buildings reflect a uniquely coastal culture. This includes the oldest Ismaili Jamatkhana in Africa, with its famous double doors of ornately carved hardwood and polished brass finishings.

The ultra-modern Aga Khan Polyclinic, housed in a Victorian-era dispensary, adds to this rich legacy — taking inspiration from the past to meet present needs, while envisioning a healthier future. It is therefore a testament to AKDN's long-term commitment and strong partnerships, which open doors to help improve the quality of life in East Africa and beyond.

[Admin]

2023, June 16: Princess Zahra to attend UCA Convocation on Friday 16, 2023.

[mahebubchatur]

University of Central Asia Graduation class 2023

More at https://the.ismaili/global/news/feature ... ng-futures

[Admin]

2023, June 15: Princess Zahra Aga Khan, accompanied by her children, Princess Sara and Prince Iliyan have now arrived in Nahryn for tomorrow's Class of 2023 University of Central Asia (UCA) Graduation. The ceremony will be webcast.


Here is the VIDEO of her arrival:

http://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023-06-15-zahra1.mp4

[Admin]

https://the.ismaili/global/news/imamat- ... onvocation

Today, as final preparations for the University of Central Asia (UCA)’s upcoming convocation ceremony were under way, Princess Zahra met with government officials in Bishkek, and with students and the UCA Board of Trustees in Naryn.



[More photos bellow the text]

After meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeenbek Kulubaev in Bishkek, Princess Zahra, along with her children, Sara and Iliyan, travelled to the mountainous town of Naryn where they conversed with students, faculty members, and TKN volunteers at the Naryn campus. She also visited Naryn town, where she explored the School of Professional and Continuing Education and the Aga Khan Medical Centre.

Princess Zahra and her children also attended a luncheon hosted by the Board of Trustees, where they had an opportunity to speak with graduating students about their time at UCA and their aspirations for the future. Sara and Iliyan were also taken on a tour of the campus by Associate Dean Sohail Ashrafi and members of the graduating class. They had the opportunity to interact with students and hear stories of their experiences at UCA.

To celebrate the outstanding achievements of its students, the University hosted a student awards night, attended by Princess Zahra. The event served as a platform to recognise and celebrate students’ exceptional dedication and excellence throughout their time at UCA. The atmosphere was filled with joy and emotion, not least for the recipients who were honoured with well-deserved accolades.

Tomorrow, UCA’s Class of 2023 will graduate in a multi-campus convocation ceremony held in both Naryn and Khorog. Join us for the convocation live stream on The Ismaili TV. Dates and timings are listed below.

Vancouver 15 June 9:15 PM

Calgary 15 June 10:15 PM

Toronto 16 June 12:15 AM

London 16 June 5:15 AM

East Africa 16 June 7:15 AM

Tajikistan / Pakistan 16 June 9:15 AM

India 16 June 9:45 AM

Kyrgyzstan 16 June 10:15 AM

[Admin]

2023, June 16: Princess Zahra Aga Khan, accompanied by her children, Princess Sara and Prince Iliyan have attended in Nahryn Class of 2023 University of Central Asia (UCA) Graduation. The ceremony has beeen webcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmHu6nQuMpM


SPEECH VIDEO of Princess Zahra Aga Khan: https://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023- ... speech.mp4

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[mahebubchatur]

“ The graduands, adorned in the University of Central Asia (UCA)’s signature blue regalia, took part in formal processions on campus, before gathering with proud parents, faculty, supporters, and well-wishers — in-person and via live stream — to mark this long-awaited and momentous occasion.

Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, Chairman of UCA's Board of Trustees, delivered a warm welcome address, and expressed deep appreciation to the Patrons of the University — the Presidents of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Kazakhstan — for their ongoing support of the University. He also outlined his high hopes for UCA students and alumni in the years to come.

“They will be entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers, policymakers and leaders in fields that are yet to emerge.” he said. “Undoubtedly, their achievements will make all of us even more proud than we are today.”

Princess Zahra also attended the ceremony in Naryn and addressed the audience. She extended her thanks to faculty and staff, parents and family members, donors, partners, and volunteers. She further acknowledged the students’ achievements during a rigorous few years.

“In your time at UCA, you forged friendships that will last a lifetime,” she said to graduands. “You acquired a new sense of who you are and what you are capable of. You tried and failed, tried again and succeeded, and felt the wind of confidence fill your sails and propel you toward new tests and trials.”

Princess Zahra, who serves as a member of UCA's Board of Trustees, also reflected on the overall progress of the University, and encouraged graduates to look ahead to the future.

“Decades from now, when this University has grown immensely in scope and impact, you will be able to say: ‘I was there at the beginning. I helped to lay the foundations for the success of my alma mater. And with the education I received, I achieved things I would not have thought possible.’”

A keynote address was delivered by Anita Zaidi, President of the Gender Equality Division at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Ms Zaidi, a graduate of the Aga Khan University (AKU), shared lessons from her life and career, which have focused on combating infectious diseases affecting children and advocating for a more gender-equal world.

She urged the Class of 2023 to serve Central Asia as they embark on their professional journeys and make pivotal life choices. She emphasised the importance of giving back to their communities and becoming catalysts for positive change, inspired by what they have learned at UCA.

“This university, your university, is a truly special place.” she said. “Not just for its brilliant beauty, inspiring professors, and the lifelong friendships you have forged here. It’s a place where women and men are equal.”

“I urge you to take this ethos with you as you venture out into the world,” she added. “Champion the men and the women in your lives. Show us what kind of challenges can be conquered when women and men are equally empowered to realise their full potential.”

Other esteemed guests at the convocation event included Dr Hudoydodzoda Farrukh, Head of the Department of International Relations at Tajikistan’s Ministry of Education and Science; and Kanybek Imanaliev, Minister of Education and Science for the Kyrgyz Republic; both of whom shared inspiring remarks and commended graduands on their accomplishments.

Representing the Class of 2023, valedictorian Wajahat Khan, who hails from a remote part of Gilgit Baltistan, Pakistan, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to parents for their unwavering care and sacrifices, which enabled the graduates to fulfil their potential.

He urged his fellow graduands to embrace a similar attitude of care and responsibility towards society: “We should be an example of the change we want to see in the world,” he emphasised. “We should be advocates and ambassadors of peace and knowledge as we embark on new paths and adventures.”

“Our journey does not end here,” he added. “Together, let us embrace the challenges that lie ahead, and strive for success — not just for ourselves but also for the advancement of society as a whole.

During her address, Princess Zahra also shared a message from the University's founder and chancellor, Mawlana Hazar Imam. His message underlined the challenges that Central Asia and the wider world faces today, including new forms of artificial intelligence, climate change, and globalisation. UCA has helped to prepare graduates to tackle these challenges, he said.

“In my eyes, you embody promise,” Hazar Imam’s message read. “The promise of a new generation, alive to new ways of collaborating, communicating, and thinking; and the promise of a new university, alert to emerging problems and eager to identify new opportunities to serve its countries. Born as the University of Central Asia was first taking shape, you are as young as the University itself. Equally bright futures lie ahead of you and your alma mater.”

“My wish,” Hazar Imam’s message concluded, “is that you will both continue to draw strength and inspiration from one another for many, many decades to come. (TheIsmaili)

More at
https://twitter.com/chaturmahebub/statu ... hqfO552USg

[mahebubchatur]

Princess Zahra Aga Khan met with @MFA_Kyrgyzstan, Jeenbek Kulubaev, in #Bishkek yesterday.
The two discussed @akdn ‘s work in the country @ areas of possible further collaboration. Princess was in #Kyrgyzstan for the @ucentralasia's graduation ceremony in #Naryn

https://twitter.com/chaturmahebub/statu ... hqfO552USg

[Admin]

2023, June 16: Princess Zahra Aga Khan, accompanied by her children, Princess Sara and Prince Iliyan have attended in Nahryn Class of 2023 University of Central Asia (UCA) Graduation.


SPEECH VIDEO of Princess Zahra Aga Khan: https://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023- ... speech.mp4

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[Admin]

From AKDN Twitter

Princess Zahra Aga Khan met with Kyrgyzstan's Jeenbek Kulubaev, in Bishkek yesterday. The two discussed AKDN's work in the country and areas of possible further collaboration. Princess Zahra was in Kyrgyzstan for the University of Central Asia 2023 Graduation.

[Admin]

2023, June16: Speech by Princess Zahra Aga Khan, UCA Trustee at the 2023 UCA Convocation

VIDEO: https://ismaili.net/timeline/2023/2023- ... speech.mp4



Source: akdn.org
Princess Zahra Aga Khan, UCA Trustee, at the 2023 UCA Convocation AKDN / Iskender Ermekov
Author: Princess Zahra Aga Khan

Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Your Excellencies Imanaliev Kanybek Kapashovich, Minister of Education and Science of the Kyrgyz Republic;

Saidzoda Rahim Hamro, Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan;

Altynbek Ergeshov, Governor of Naryn Oblast;

and Mirzonabot Alisher Khudoberdi, Governor of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast;

Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Dr Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, and Members of the Board;

Maxim Khomyakov, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences;

Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, President of the Aga Khan University;

UCA faculty and staff;

Dr Anita Zaidi;

Generous donors, partners, volunteers, and friends of UCA around the world;

Parents and family members;

Distinguished guests;

And, above all, our graduates of 2023:

It is a great pleasure to be here in Naryn, amid the breathtakingly beautiful Tien Shan mountains and once again to speak to our newest graduates, both here and in the equally majestic setting of UCA’s campus in Khorog. That we are able to connect our campuses in this way reminds us of a central element of the University of Central Asia’s mission: to connect people across borders and boundaries of all kinds.

Five years ago, the members of the Class of 2023 entered for the first time the brilliant pink and yellow buildings that surround us today. To leave one’s family behind and venture off to university is always an experience fraught with questions and anxiety, excitement and expectation. But for these young women and men, it represented a particularly momentous transition. Most came to UCA from rural communities and small towns. The vast majority had been educated principally in a language other than English, the University’s medium of instruction. Moreover, they were just the third class to be admitted to the School of Arts and Sciences, which as yet had no alumni.

What would bring the next five years? What paths might they follow? What would they do after graduation? These questions resonated even more, to an even larger degree, with more uncertainty than usual.

Today, the Class of 2023 knows the answer. Graduates, your years at UCA have been marked by intense and rewarding study; by moments of intellectual discovery and sudden realisation; by transformative experiences outside the classroom. They were shaped as well by a global pandemic that placed daunting obstacles in your path, but it couldn’t halt your progress and your determination.

In your time at UCA, you forged friendships that will last a lifetime. You acquired a new sense of who you are and what you are capable of. You tried and failed, tried again and succeeded, and felt the wind of confidence fill your sails and propel you toward new challenges.

You have also seen your predecessors – the classes of 2021 and 2022 – gain acceptance to renowned graduate schools, take up positions at leading institutions and launch their own enterprises. And now you are following in their footsteps. Along with them, you are defining the tradition of UCA. Decades from now, when this University has grown immensely in scope and impact, you will be able to say, as Anita and I can both say about AKU: I was there at the beginning. You can say, I helped lay the foundations for the success of my alma mater. And with the education I received, I achieved things I would not have thought possible.

Of course, you didn’t reach this peak of achievement without assistance. Nor did the university as a whole. We must thank our faculty and our staff, who sparked the graduates’ curiosity and stimulated their hunger for knowledge. We must recognise the parents and family members of the graduates, whose hearts are deservedly full of pride today. We must convey our profound gratitude to our donors, volunteers, partners, and friends around the world. Without their abundant generosity and assistance, the University of Central Asia would not be sending these talented young men and women out into the world.

Finally, we must acknowledge the governments of UCA’s Founding States, who have contributed so powerfully to its success. If the University is thriving today, it is because our government partners have created an enabling environment that supports its growth and development.

Ladies and gentlemen, those were a few thoughts from me and now allow me to read a message from the Chancellor. (see below message from His Highness The Aga Khan IV)

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Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim

Members of the Class of 2023, distinguished guests, faculty and staff, trustees, friends and supporters:

Two decades ago, the University of Central Asia was only an idea. That idea was distinctive, even unique, encompassing a multi-campus, multi-country institution located in and devoted to the development of mountain societies. It had attracted dedicated adherents and generous supporters. It possessed an enabling framework, thanks to its patrons, the Presidents of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Republic of Kazakhstan. These were tremendous assets that boded well for the future. But the journey from idea to reality had only just begun.

The graduation of the Class of 2023 reminds us how far we have come in the intervening years, and how much we have accomplished.

In 2006, UCA launched the School of Professional and Continuing Education to enable individuals across the region to acquire valuable skills. Since then, 220,000 people – half of them women – have completed courses in scores of subjects, from welding to accounting to cybersecurity.

In 2011, we established the Graduate School of Development to conduct research on issues important to Central Asia’s future, and to build capacity within public, private, and civil society institutions. Today, with climate change posing a grave threat to the region, it is working to identify drought-resistant crops; investigating avalanche risk; supporting the development of sustainable infrastructure; examining the health impacts of climate change; and engaging community organisations in the search for solutions.

In 2016 and 2017, we inaugurated our first campuses, not in national capitals but – in accordance with the University’s mission – in remote areas where they can have a decisive impact. And today, we are celebrating the third of many convocations and many milestones to come. The history of the University of Central Asia demonstrates that high ideals and bold ambitions can inspire people of diverse backgrounds to work together to improve quality of life, at home and abroad.

Graduates, Central Asia and the world face an array of challenges and opportunities. Climate change is altering the relationship between humanity and the environment. Advances in artificial intelligence are opening new horizons in the interface between humanity and technology. Globalisation is transforming relations between countries and communities as knowledge flows ever faster around the world.

Your education has prepared you to address these challenges. You have been trained in computer science, in data science, in environmental science, in economics, and in communications – each a field of vital importance. You have discovered what it means to live in a diverse community. And above all, you have learned that challenges are not to be feared but to be embraced.

In my eyes, you embody promise: the promise of a new generation, alive to new ways of collaborating, communicating, and thinking; and the promise of a new university, alert to emerging problems and eager to identify new opportunities to serve its countries. Born as the University of Central Asia was first taking shape, you are as young as the University itself. Equally bright futures lie ahead of you and your alma mater. My wish is that you will continue to draw strength and inspiration from one another for many, many decades to come.

[kmaherali]

Princess Zahra Aga Khan rec.eives a gift from Zanzibar's tourism and heritage minister Simai Mohammed Said in Lisbon, Portugal

Zanzibar’s Tourism and Heritage Minister Hon. Simai Mohammed Said has on Thursday,July 27, met Princess Zahra Aga Khan at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon.


The visit comes on the heels of Princess Zahra’s visit to Zanzibar including the inauguration of a Polyclinic in Zanzibar and Mwanza.

Mr Simai Said was accompanied by Mr. Rahim Bhaloo, Chairman of Zanzibar Commission of Tourism

During the meeting Princess Zahra and her guests discussed a wide range of issue which included the activities and presence of the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network in Zanzibar.

They also explored areas of cooperation in fields such as education, culture and other programmes which they described as the core foundation of improvement of the quality of life of populations.



In photo from left to right is Tanzania Hon Consula in Portugal Mr Rui Sa Pessoa, Tanzania Consular in its France Embassy Consular Aggrey Meena, Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Mr Simai Mohamed Said Minister for Tourism and Heritage, Zanzibar, ZCT Chairman Rahim Bhaloo, Mr Nazim Ahmad the AKDN Diplomatic representative at the Diwan of Ismaili Imamat


In photo from left to right is Tanzania Hon Consula in Portugal Mr Rui Sa Pessoa, Tanzania Consular in its France Embassy Consular Aggrey Meena,

Princess Zahra Aga Khan, Mr Simai Mohamed Said Minister for Tourism and Heritage, Zanzibar, ZCT Chairman Rahim Bhaloo, Mr Nazim Ahmad the AKDN Diplomatic representative at the Diwan of Ismaili Imamat

Also on the Minister’s delegation were Mr. Rui Sá Pessoa, the honorary Consul of Tanzania in Lisbon,(Mr. Aggrey Anase Meena, an adviser at the Embassy of Tanzania in Paris and Mr. Nazim Ahmad, the Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat was also in attendance.


His Highness the Aga Khan, the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), is the 49th hereditary Imam (Spiritual Leader) of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims.

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is dedicated to improving the quality of life of those in need, mainly in Asia and Africa, irrespective of their origin, faith, or gender.

https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/tanzania/z ... on-4319302