Expanding Facilities Keep Pace with Growth

After extensive planning and securing of resources, major new developments on the AKU campus, Stadium Road, are a testament that the institute is moving ahead in the Health Sciences to fulfill its mission of setting the highest standards possible in teaching, research and service. The recent inaugurations of three new facilities as well as a foundation laying ceremony by His Highness the Aga Khan, for Ambulatory Care Building, in support of existing facilities of the University and University Hospital, have ushered a new phase in the University's rapid growth.

His Highness the Aga Khan and Her Highness Begum Aga Khan inaugurate the Ibn Ridwan Building with representatives of the 200 Ismaili Health Professionals of Canada who gave donations for the building.

The first new facility to be inaugurated was the Ibn Ridwan Building, housing the Community Health Sciences Department (CHS). It was built with the generous support of some 200 Ismaili Health Professionals of Canada, who collectively donated Can $ 4 million. The CHS Department aims to promote human welfare, and develop and disseminate knowledge for the advancement of effective and affordable health systems, that would lead to the betterment of the people of Pakistan and the region. In his address at the ceremony, His Highness the Aga Khan emphasised the immediate impact of the Department as well as its vital contribution to the future evolution of the University. He said that not only is it currently analysing and responding to local needs to improve the standards of health care delivery, but will also be a key component of AKU's future Institute of Human Development.

Dr Anwar Siddiqui, Co-ordinator Research and Associate Professor BioChemistry, giving a tour of the Bio-Safety Level 3 Laboratory in the Juma Building.

Creating supportive conditions for independent research that focuses on local and regional needs, is another important objective of the University. The newly inaugurated US $ 3 million Juma Building, built with the generous support of anonymous donors from Kenya, will be the linchpin of the University's expanding research activities.With its state-of-the-art facilities, the first of its kind in Pakistan, it will provide both an enabling environments for research for the faculty and students as well as attract international research scholars of the highest caliber.

As His Highness noted in his address at the ceremony, "a good university can exist without research programmes, but an exceptional one cannot." On a tour of the Sports and Rehabilitation Center, accompanied by Dr Robert Buchanan (right), Member of the Board of Trustees, AKU.   The Sports and Rehabilitation Centre, the third new facility to be inaugurated, will considerably enhance rehabilitative patient care services and badly needed recreational facilities for students, faculty, staff and their families at the University. The Centre was funded by over 50,000 youth in 30 countries who donated a total of US $ 3 million. This was matched by a generous gift of US $ 3 million by His Highness.

In addition to Rehabilitation Clinics that provide programmes for patients with cardiac, neuro-muscular and musculo skeletal difficulties, the complex also has an Olympic-size swimming pool, cricket and soccer fields, a large gymnasium, a weight-training and aerobics room and tennis, squash and volleyball courts.

Laying the foundation of the Nazerali-Walji Ambulatory Care Building with Mr. and Mrs. Sultan Nazerali-Walji.

The foundation laying ceremony of the Nazerali-Walji Ambulatory Care building by His Highness, launched a new era in health care delivery in Pakistan. The Nazerali-Walji family from Canada, has generously donated US $ 3 million against the total US $ 4.3 million cost of the project. In response to changing health care needs, it will offer accessible and affordable quality care to patients, as well as become a "one stop" multi purpose facility, allowing flexibility and greater access to medical and diagnostic services for outpatients.