Donors Honoured for Generous Support to Oncology Services Building

Philanthropic Support for New Facilities on Campus

The growth in existing programmes and demand for new education, research and service initiatives have led to rapid development on AKU Health Sciences campus. 

The Nazerali-Walji Building for ambulatory care offers outpatients with easily accessible and comprehensive multipurpose facilities, with clinics, diagnostics and pharmacy services all under one roof.

Since 1996, the Rufayda
Al-Aslamiya Building has extended AKU School of Nursing's education facilities, the Hadi Building expanded Aga Khan University Hospital's radiology imaging modalities, the Juma Building enhanced capacity for research, the Ibn Ridwan Building accommodated AKU's Community Health Sciences Department, and the Nazerali-Walji Building for ambulatory care provided outpatients with greater access to multipurpose facilities under one roof. More recently, projects targeting women's residences and cardiac and oncology services have been realised as corporations and citizens demonstrate their responsibility to social sector development through generous donations. The commitment and support of the national and multinational corporate sector, families and individuals to the University's burgeoning facilities reflects their confidence in the Institution. These collaborative endeavours bringing together such diverse groups also provide a model of philanthropy not often seen in the developing world.

At the inauguration ceremony of the Nazerali-Walji Buildingfor ambulatory care in November 2002, the Governor of Sindh at that time, Mohammedmian Soomro, paid tribute to the generosity of donors, saying, "I admire that you have not forgotten your roots."

The Rs. 288 million (US$ 4.8 million), three-storied ambulatory care building has a built-up area of 24,000 square feet. It offers outpatients with easily accessible and comprehensive multipurpose facilities, with clinics, diagnostics and pharmacy services all under one roof. The facility, made possible through a generous donation of Rs. 180 million (US$ 3 million) by the Nazerali-Walji family of Canada, is an important step by the University towards meeting the growing demand for high quality outpatient services in Pakistan.

Governor Soomro also expressed his gratitude to donors at the dedication ceremony of the Karimi Residences, the Noor Residences and the Arman Rupani Residences for women.  As an equal opportunity employer, AKU attracts women seeking professional engagement and development from across the country and the region. Located within the secure environs of the University campus, these amenities will provide accommodation for such out-of-station women. To be completed in November 2003 at a total cost of Rs. 390 million (US$ 6.5 million), the built-up area of the three-building complex will be 64,500 square feet spread over 8.6 acres. This project has been constructed with generous donations from the Mansoorali J. Karimi, the Mewawalla and the Amir Ali Rupani families.

A third new construction on campus, which will be operational in June 2003, is the Khimji Building, named after the Khimji family, also of Canada, who donated Rs. 180 million (US$ 3 million) towards the Rs. 315 million (US$ 5.3 million) total cost of the project. Additionally, nine donors have contributed Rs. 75.5 million (US$ 1.26 million) to meet the cost for equipment. The three-storied, 20,000 square feet facility will meet the increasing demand for the Hospital's cardiac services.

The latest philanthropic endeavour to meet the growing need for high quality, comprehensive care to cancer patients in Pakistan is the proposed Oncology Services Building. Of the total cost of Rs. 456 million (US$ 7.6 million), Rs. 240 million (US$ 4 million) is being raised by donors from Pakistan and abroad in 48 units of Rs. 5 million (US$ 83,000) each. Donations have originated from a very broad segment of the corporate sector and individuals, including the largest single contribution of Rs. 30 million (US$ 500,000) by San Francisco based Asim Abdullah and his wife, Dr. Isha Abdullah, an AKU Medical College graduate (MBBS, ’91). The balance of Rs. 216 million (US$ 3.6 million) is being funded by the Institution's own resources.

With construction beginning in 2003 and completion expected in 2005, the new Oncology Services Building will be a state-of-the-art comprehensive cancer care facility, available to the seven million cancer sufferers in Pakistan. The 27,000 square feet facility will offer cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment services, as well as training and research programmes. Patient care will focus on prevention, with screening for common cancers and AKUH sponsored health awareness programmes.

In February 2003, donors of the Oncology Services Building were honoured for their generous support towards this addition to a growing ambulatory care complex at AKUH. Shaukat  Aziz, Advisor (presently Federal Minister) to the Prime Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Planning, Development and Statistics, Government of Pakistan, chief guest on this occasion, complimenting the donors said, "Philanthropy is not just a simple act of giving to the underprivileged. It is an ongoing process that tackles the root causes of poverty, inequity and disadvantage." He continued that there was no substitute for a partnership between Pakistan's public and private sectors in fighting poverty. He acknowledged the generosity of all donors present and said that "their support is an excellent example of corporate philanthropy in action, of building trust, and a motivation for the entire private sector." The chief guest also acknowledged His Highness the Aga Khan's commitment to social sector development and commended Aga Khan Development Network for its continued efforts towards poverty alleviation, access to education, health care and development of rural areas, describing it as "a continuous beacon of hope for Pakistan's less fortunate."

Welcoming the chief guest, Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, President of AKU, said the generous support of donors to the new building was a prime example of how a "sincere and committed partnership between the community, business and government can change our collective destiny in the developing world."  He explained that being in effect a national project, the new facility would be a recognition of the country's collective will for societal development. "Tonight is a celebration of the ongoing effort to bring such partnerships to fruition," he said. Munnawar Hamid, member of AKU Board of Trustees and Chair of the University's Resource Development Committee (corporate), appreciating the contributions by donors, said that this undertaking would not have been possible without their support.

The recent expansion of facilities on AKU Health Sciences campus has been enabled by a broad range of donor groups, fostering a platform for ecumenism between diverse communities. Motivated by more than just charitable sentiment, this demonstrates the undertaking of a cogent responsibility by those who want to invest in the betterment of society.

For more information, please visit: http://www.aku.edu/news/archives/shaukaziz.shtml