University Offers Support to Afghanistan in Medical and Nursing Education

A five-member delegation from Afghanistan, headed by the Minister for Public Health, Dr. General Soheila Sediq, visited AKU in January 2003. This visit was part of a programme to seek expertise from Pakistan's medical, nursing, educational and training centres, and discuss various options in which assistance could be offered to improve health conditions in Afghanistan.

The Minister was accompanied by Dr. Abdullah Fahim, Director of the Foreign Relations Department of the Ministry of Public Health; Dr. Khalil Mossadegh, President of the Intermediate Medical Educational Institute (IMEI) of Kabul; Dr. Arabshah, Director of IMEI; Dr. Bashir Noormal, World Health Organization Education and Training Coordinator; members of the Consulate of Afghanistan in Karachi and Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Health, Government of Pakistan.

Dr. General Soheila Sediq, Minister for Public Health, Afghanistan, receives a souvenir from Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, President, AKU

During meetings with President Shamsh Kassim-Lakha as well as senior leadership of the University, the delegation exchanged views on the possibilities and scope of extending support of health services to the people in Afghanistan. The Minister noted that Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) had established credibility with the Afghan government by virtue of timely and effective implementation of various programmes.

The delegation appreciated His Highness the Aga Khan's long-term commitment to Afghanistan as well as the high quality of programmes and services offered by AKU. AKDN is playing a continual role in the economic, social and cultural development of Afghanistan, with US$ 75 million committed by His Highness the Aga Khan in 2002 towards the reconstruction of the country.

At the request of the Afghan government, AKU offered help in providing postgraduate medical education through residency programmes for Afghan physicians at Aga Khan University Hospital and General Nursing as well as BScN programmes at the University's School of Nursing (AKU-SON). Some of the current activities of AKU-SON in Afghanistan include initiating English courses, establishing a computer laboratory and renovating and equipping a nursing skills laboratory.

Representatives from teacher training institutions and officials from Afghanistan's Ministry of Higher Education with AKU-IED staff and faculty.

AKU-SON faculty recently conducted a workshop on "Curriculum Development Process" and assisted IMEI in strengthening and developing their nursing and midwifery   curriculum and programmes. To respond to the need for continuing medical and nursing education, AKU has already offered to develop programmes specifically for capacity building of medical and nursing faculty in Afghanistan.

Earlier, in September and October 2002, representatives from teacher training institutions and officials from Afghanistan’s  Ministry of Higher Education visited Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development, to seek help in educational planning and policy-making. The officials acquainted themselves with the process of educational decision-making, as well as learning ways of aligning government policy with development plans for the country.

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