Goldenjubilee Mubarak

August 15, 2007

Aga Khan Receives Kenya's Highest Medal of Honour

Nairobi, Kenya, August 14, 2007 – His Highness the Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims was awarded Kenya’s highest medal of honour, the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya, (C.G.H.) by the President of the country, His Excellency President Mwai Kibaki.

Bestowing the award during a state banquet held in honour of the Aga Khan yesterday, the President noted that the Aga Khan had recorded an impressive and enduring legacy of service to the Ismaili community, Kenya and the world at large. “The achievements you have accomplished are an eloquent testimony of your dedication to your spiritual calling as well as selfless commitment to the well-being of mankind, irrespective of race or religion” said the President.

President Kibaki praised the Ismaili community’s contribution to Kenya’s development. “The energy and resources that the community has continued to deploy in various fields of development, including health, education, business and investments have immensely benefited our people and country,” he said. “We value your contribution and look forward to even stronger bonds in the years ahead.”

East Africa in general and Kenya in particular have been the traditional home to many members of the Ismaili community, which has played a significant role in the region’s development for more than a century.

The Kenyan President also applauded the work of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in the health and education sectors, which impact positively on the lives of many Kenyans. He spoke hours after the Aga Khan announced the launch of East Africa’s first private medical school – the Faculty of Health Sciences that is part of the Aga Khan University.

The Aga Khan thanked the President, “Let me say first what a wonderful honour it is – to become a Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya, and to do so on one’s Golden Jubilee!” He reflected upon his early childhood days in Kenya and spoke about his hope for the future of the country and renewed optimism of the Kenyan people.

“Kenya has one of the highest per capita literacy rates in Africa and is determined to make democracy work. It has created an enabling environment for vibrant enterprise in fields such as agriculture and horticulture, tourism and finance. In fact, at a recent World Economic Forum, Kenya was ranked among the top three countries in Africa in welcoming investment and innovation,” he said.

Speaking about the work of the AKDN in Kenya, the Aga Khan noted that these projects “ .. reflect our respect and affection for the Kenyan people - and for the sense of promise which I recall from my childhood in Kenya, and which I continue to feel on every return visit”.

The Aga Khan is in East Africa for his first official tour of his Golden Jubilee. He leaves on Thursday for Tanzania and will be in Uganda later in the week.

August 14, 2007

Aga Khan University Announces the Faculty of Health Sciences in East Africa - VIDEO

Aga Khan University Announces
the Faculty of Health Sciences in East Africa

To Watch Video Clik To below Link

VIDEO

13 August 2007 - Nairobi, Kenya

His Highness the Aga Khan, Chancellor of the Aga Khan University,
accompanied by Professor George Saitoti, Kenyan Minister for Education,
inaugurates the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Aga Khan University (AKU-FHS)
East Africa's first premier private medical school.

The US $250 million health sciences campus to be established in Nairobi,
aims to provide international standard education for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals.

Aga Khan University Announces the Faculty of Health Sciences in East Africa - Images

Aga Khan University Announces
the Faculty of Health Sciences in East Africa

	His Highness the Aga Khan being welcomed by Ambassador Saidullah Khan Dehlavi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Aga Khan University. File size: 870 KB Photo credit: Gary Otte
	His Highness the Aga Khan with President of the Aga Khan University, Firoz Rasul and CEO of the Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi, Asmita Gillani. File size: 809 KB Photo credit: Gary Otte
	His Highness the Aga Khan and Professor George Saitoti, Kenyan Minister for Education at the ceremony which marked the launch of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Aga Khan University. File size: 810 KB Photo credit: Gary Otte
	His Highness the Aga Khan speaking at the launch of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Aga Khan University. File size: 568 KB Photo credit: Gary Otte
	His Highness the Aga Khan and Professor George Saitoti, Kenyan Minister for Education unveil a plaque to commemorate the launch of the Faculty of Health Sciences. File size: 581 KB Photo credit: Zahir Daya
	His Highness the Aga Khan and Professor George Saitoti with the architect of the new Faculty of Health Sciences, Farouk Noormohamed reviewing artists renderings of the new Faculty. File size: 581 KB Photo credit: Gary Otte

Aga Khan University Announces the Faculty of Health Sciences in East Africa

Aga Khan University Announces
the Faculty of Health Sciences in East Africa

Nairobi, Kenya, 13 August 2007 – His Highness the Aga Khan, Chancellor of the Aga Khan University, accompanied by Professor George Saitoti, Kenyan Minister for Education, today inaugurated the Faculty of Health Sciences of the Aga Khan University (AKU-FHS) – East Africa’s first premier private medical school.

The US $250 million health sciences campus to be established in Nairobi, aims to provide international standard education for doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. It will comprise a Medical College, a School of Nursing and allied health programmes and will offer degrees at bachelors, masters and PhD levels. The Faculty aims to build local capacity and will enable implementation of health care services with world class infrastructure and quality. The campus will consist of academic facilities, student residences and amenities which will include a library, student centre and auditorium as well as sports facilities. In addition, significant expansion of the hospital will also take place to support the growth in academic programmes.

Speaking at the launch of the Faculty, the Aga Khan, who is also founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), commented, “Building on the success of its existing programmes – the Aga Khan University is planning to establish a new Faculty of Health Sciences here in Nairobi. To my knowledge, this will be the first private sector university in Eastern Africa to create a full-fledged Faculty of Health Sciences offering under-graduate and post-graduate degrees in Medicine, Nursing and the allied health sciences”.

The Faculty is the first social development initiative announced by the Aga Khan as part of his Golden Jubilee celebrations, marking his 50 years as the Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims.

In keeping with the Aga Khan University’s overall vision in Africa, to provide quality healthcare and education in the region, the AKU-FHS will focus on producing effective leaders in health care through professional health education, engaging in best practices and developing self sustaining models of health care delivery. In addition, the AKU-FHS will promote relevant high impact research, particularly in the areas of health services and epidemiology that will have an impact on influencing health policy.

Kenya’s Education Minister Professor George Saitoti, said the Aga Khan initiative could not come at a better time. “Our public universities are able to absorb only about 10,000 students each year, representing 20 to 26 percent of candidates who attain a mean grade of C+ and above,” he said. The minister noted that the government attached particular importance to health and education in its long-term Economic Recovery Strategy. “Health and education are key sectors we have identified as pillars in the vision 2030,” he said .

Work on the new Faculty’s Heart and Cancer Centre is expected to commence later this year. This US $40 million initiative will replace and enhance existing facilities in surgery, obstetrics, critical care and imaging, and provide facilities for the tertiary treatment services in cardiology and cancer. The Centre will serve communities in the Eastern Africa region and will enable the hospital to educate residents and nurses in an innovative, technology-enabled teaching environment.

The Aga Khan University (AKU) was established and chartered in 1983 as an international university within the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of private, non-denominational development agencies and institutions working together to improve living conditions and opportunities in over 30 of the poorest countries in the developing world. The University has 11 teaching sites in 8 countries, including the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi which has been in operation in Nairobi for over 50 years under the aegis of the Aga Khan Health Services. The transition to the Aga Khan University Hospital commenced in 2005 with a vision of becoming a premier tertiary, teaching and referral hospital serving sub-Saharan Africa.

Today one-third of the total AKU student body worldwide is enrolled in academic programmes in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The Advanced Nursing Studies Programme delivers certificate and degree programmes to upgrade the quality of nursing in all three countries, while Postgraduate Medical Education Programmes in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam provide advanced training to aspiring medical specialists. In addition, the University has launched the Institute of Educational Development also in Dar es Salaam to enable teachers to upgrade their capabilities by learning from innovative curriculum design, pedagogy and assessment.

The AKU is committed to the development of leaders in East Africa, and pays particular attention to equipping them with critical thinking and problem solving skills to enable them to address the challenges facing their own communities and societies; at full capacity, there will be 3000 students. In developing the multiple campuses and new programmes in East Africa, AKU will invest over $700 million in the region over the next fifteen years, providing direct employment to approximately 4,000 people on an ongoing basis.

Aga Khan in East Africa for First Golden Jubilee Visit

His Highness the Aga Khan arrives in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, on Sunday, 12 August, on the first leg of a 12-day official visit to the East Africa region, at the invitation of the Governments of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. During the trip the Aga Khan will meet with members of the Ismaili Community and top ranking government officials.

The East Africa tour will be the first undertaken by the Spiritual Leader of the 15 million-strong Ismaili community since he completed his 50 years as the Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims last month. He is expected to make a number of visits during his Golden Jubilee year, especially to countries where the Ismaili Community resides and where the Aga Khan Development Network operates.

Fifty years ago, at the age of 20, the Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, as the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. In the Ismaili tradition, the Imam’s jubilee celebrations offer occasions to launch new social, cultural and economic development projects. Projects launched during the Jubilees of his grandfather, Aga Khan III, including the Diamond Jubilee Trust Bank and the Jubilee Investment Trust, continue to serve the people of East Africa.

During his visit to East Africa, the Aga Khan will preside over the foundation stone laying ceremonies for the Faculty of Health Sciences of the East Africa chapter of the Aga Khan University, the residential campus for the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, the new Aga Khan Academy in Kampala and Uganda’s Bujagali Hydro Power Project. While in Mombasa, he will participate in the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Aga Khan Foundation’s educational Madrasa Programme.

MHI Arrival In africa Images

August 11, 2007

Aga Khan in East Africa for First Golden Jubilee Visit

His Highness the Aga Khan arrives in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, on Sunday, 12 August, on the first leg of a 12-day official visit to the East Africa region, at the invitation of the Governments of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. During the trip the Aga Khan will meet with members of the Ismaili Community and top ranking government officials.

Fifty years ago, at the age of 20, the Aga Khan succeeded his grandfather, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, as the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. In the Ismaili tradition, the Imam's jubilee celebrations offer occasions to launch new social, cultural and economic development projects. Projects launched during the Jubilees of his grandfather, Aga Khan III, including the Diamond Jubilee Trust Bank and the Jubilee Investment Trust, continue to serve the people of East Africa.

During his visit to East Africa, the Aga Khan will preside over the foundation stone laying ceremonies for the Faculty of Health Sciences of the East Africa chapter of the Aga Khan University, the residential campus for the Aga Khan Academy in Mombasa, the new Aga Khan Academy in Kampala and Uganda's Bujagali Hydro Power Project. While in Mombasa, he will participate in the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Aga Khan Foundation's educational Madrasa Programme.

For further information please contact:

Wanjiru Mwangi Ruhanga
Communications Officer
AKDN Kenya
wanjiru.ruhanga@akdnkenya.org
+ 254 (0)721 217 499

NOTES

His Highness the Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims, comprising ethnically and culturally diverse peoples living in over 25 countries around the world. He is the founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network.

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of private, non-denominational development agencies working to empower communities and individuals to improve living conditions and opportunities, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, Central and South Asia, and the Middle East. The Network's nine development agencies focus on social, cultural and economic development for all citizens, regardless of gender, origin or religion. The AKDN's underlying ethic is compassion for the vulnerable in society. Its annual budget for philanthropic activity is in excess of US$ 300 million.