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 His
Highness the Aga Khan, Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network
(AKDN) and Chancellor of Aga Khan University (AKU) today inaugurated
the Rs 500 million Ibn Zuhr Building for Oncology Services at AKU's
Karachi campus.
The building, named after the great Muslim physician Abu Marwan
Abd al-Malik Ibn Zuhr (1091-1161 A.D), is a comprehensive cancer
centre with state-of-the-art equipment, offering a wide range of
facilities such as screening, diagnostic and treatment services,
including high quality nuclear imaging, chemotherapy, radiation
therapy, surgical oncology services, and cancer research facilities
- all under one roof.
The new addition to the 654-bed Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH)
in Karachi is the first of its kind in Sindh and will provide a
much needed service in the city. Five to ten percent of the country's
population could suffer from cancer in their lifetime and at AKUH
alone, approximately 12,000 patients are diagnosed with cancer each
year. The Centre is even more critical as the prevalence of cancer
continues to rise; according to WHO estimates, two-thirds of all
cancer cases will be observed in developing countries by 2025.
 Acknowledging
the support of both corporate and individual donors at the building's
inauguration ceremony, the Aga Khan said, "It is through the generous
contribution of donors, that we are able to excel in the area of
health care and to recruit the most qualified personnel, and provide
facilities and services that that are setting the highest standards
not only in Pakistan but indeed worldwide."
The Ibn Zuhr Building, a six-floor building with an area of 42,454
sq. ft, is located near the University Hospital's entrance on Stadium
Road. While half of the total project cost was funded by the University,
an equal proportion was raised through donations received from 74
generous individuals and donor groups, from Karachi and across Pakistan,
who contributed a total of Rs. 250 million for this project.
The Chancellor also expressed satisfaction that services provided
at the Ibn Zuhr Building will be accessible to those who cannot
afford the full cost of their treatment, through the support of
the University Hospital's Patient Welfare Programme. "This is your
commitment to society at large," he told donors attending the ceremony.
"Today, AKU is a truly national University, because the full spectrum
of people of this wonderful country, have come forward and have
supported it."
Commenting on recent expansion of tertiary care at the University
Hospital including the Khimji Building for cardiac care and bone
marrow transplant unit, and now the Ibn Zuhr Building that will
provide comprehensive oncology care, AKU President Shamsh Kassim-Lakha
reiterated the need for the University to continuously extend its
services in order to address the overall health needs of the country.
Also during his visit to the campus, the Chancellor inaugurated
the new Faculty Office Building, funded by the University. The new
building will house 155 faculty and staff from Aga Khan University
Hospital's (AKUH) departments of Medicine, Paediatrics and Psychiatry.
Touring the facility, the Aga Khan said, "The new facilities are
an expression of the University's belief that it must care for its
faculty and staff, providing them with the most conducive work environment."
He added that if AKU is to stay ahead, and be the role model institution
that it aspires to be, it will need to attract bright young minds
and experienced faculty members.
Dr David Taylor, Acting Provost of AKU, advocated the importance
of creating a favourable atmosphere for research, scholarly pursuits
and service, while Dr Iqtidar Khan, Professor of Paediatrics and
Chair of the User Committee, Faculty Office Building, expressed
gratitude to the Chancellor and Trustees for providing this new
and much needed facility.
On December 3, 2005, His Highness the Aga Khan will preside over
the 18th Convocation ceremony of AKU, which will honour some 275
graduates in the fields of medicine, nursing and education. The
University has so far graduated 3,684 doctors, school teachers,
and nurses from all over Pakistan and abroad.
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