By Special Repoter
On
the occasion of French Cooperation Day, Minister for Health and Social Welfare,
Hon. Dr. Seif Rashid, today joined the French Ambassador, His Excellency Marcel
Escure and visiting dignitaries from the Agence Française de Développement
(French Agency for Development - AFD) at the Aga Khan Hospital to mark the
expansion of the Aga Khan Hospital.
AFD
is providing a concessional loan of US$ 53.5 million (Tshs 90 billion) for the
expansion. The Aga Khan Development
Network is contributing an additional US$ 26.3 million (Tshs 45 billion). The expansion encompasses the establishment
of tertiary level programs at the hospital, the creation of 30 outreach health
facilities across Tanzania and the means to start much-needed post-graduate
residency programmes in surgery and medicine.
The
dignitaries toured several units within the hospital, including the oncology
unit (launched earlier this year) as well as the cardiology and nuclear
medicine suite, which is currently under construction.
Dr.
Seif remarked that the “Aga Khan Hospital is one of the oldest premier health
institutions providing quality health services to the majority of Tanzanians. I
am very delighted to see that they are eager to bring cutting edge technology
and clinical programs to this crucial sector in the country. As a government,
we promise to continue supporting them because we greatly value the private
sector contribution towards the development of this country. Most important for
us is to provide a conducive environment for them to operate smoothly.”
His
Excellency, The Ambassador of France Marcel Escure, said that Tanzania and
France have a long and deep history of collaboration and that they were
delighted to finance the expansion of the Aga Khan Hospital, which will continue
to raise the standard of healthcare in Tanzania. He further said that as a
result of this development Tanzanians will no longer have to travel out of
Tanzania to receive top class and quality care.
He
also remarked that AFD and the French Government have a history of partnership
with the Aga Khan Development Network and were extremely happy with the new
project. “I am impressed with the projects that the Aga Khan Development has
implemented that cater to majority of Tanzanians in need.” he said. “The number of patients is increasing every
day, so there is a need to increase access and improve ways to facilitate their
further development.”
Ambassador
Marcel Escure concluded that the “French government, through the Agence
Française de Développement (AFD) will continue to support the Aga Khan Development
Network and its projects”.
The
Aga Khan Development Network’s representative, Amin Kurji, reiterated that the
hospital is “working tirelessly to make sure it expands its services by increasing
the physical infrastructure and facilities and by improving health services so
as to serve more Tanzanians”. He also explained that “in addition to
establishing tertiary level programs at the hospital this funding from AFD will
also allow the Aga Khan Hospital to establish 30 outreach health facilities
across Tanzania and enable the start of much needed post graduate residency programs
in Surgery and Medicine.”
For
more information, please contact: Riddhi Davda
Cell: 0688941035 Email: riddhi.davda@akhst.org
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