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Copenhagen, Denmark, 7th June, 2001-His Highness
the Aga Khan, Imam (spiritual leader) of the Ismaili Muslims
and founder of one of the largest private networks of healthcare institutions
in the developing world, this evening received the prestigious Archon
Award from the international nursing honour society, Sigma Theta Tau International.
The Award Ceremony took place as delegates from around the world gathered
in Copenhagen for the 12th International Nursing Research Congress and
the International Council of Nurses' 22nd Quadrennial Congress.
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| His
Highness the Aga Khan Receives the Archon Award from Dr. Patricia
Thompson, President of Sigma Theta Tau International. |
The Archon Awards - from the Greek word meaning "first to lead" - are granted
biennially to individuals who, regardless of their profession, have made
health advocacy a major aspect of their lives and whose efforts have created
significant change that is far-reaching in scope.
The Award citation highlighted the Aga Khan's "leadership
in promoting global health and welfare and for his compassionate support
of nursing and nursing research in developing countries."
Calling the occasion "a unique moment - not only for nursing, but for
health care," the Society's President Patricia Thompson described the Aga Khan as a "remarkable individual who during the course
of his distinguished life, continues to leave upon world health, the indelible
mark of a world class leader."
Acknowledging the honour accorded him, the Aga Khan said
that he had "long felt the enhancement of the nursing profession to be
absolutely critical to the improvement of health care in the developing
world and the Islamic world." He emphasised his view that "the way forward
was to professionalise, to institutionalise and to dignify" nursing in
Asia and Africa.
Past recipients of the Archon Awards have included Dr. Jonas Salk, Elizabeth
Dole,
Dr. C. Everett Koop and Dame Cicely Saunders.
Sigma Theta Tau International is a 79-year-old, quarter million-member
honour society whose mission is to improve the health of people worldwide
by improving nursing scholarship. Members include practising nurses, instructors,
researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs and others.
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| His
Highness the Aga Khan and Her Highness the Begum Aga Khan with President
Shamsh Kassim-Lahka and the Rho Delta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International.
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Aga Khan Development Network is a group of private,
international, non-denominational agencies seeking to improve opportunities
and living conditions in specific regions of the developing world, especially
in Asia and Africa. They include: the Aga Khan Health Services,
which operates more than 170 health facilities and five tertiary care
hospitals; Aga Khan Foundation, which makes grants that
promote improvements in health policies, financing mechanisms and basic
services which help communities adopt effective health practices; and
Aga Khan University, the first private university in
Pakistan, which concentrates on research, professional education in nursing,
medicine and education, and which has begun an Advanced Nursing Studies
Programme in East Africa.
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