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AKU
Sets Up Science Laboratory to Enhance Nursing Education in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
faces serious challenges in the areas of education and health care
that demand urgent attention. Long-term recovery and reconstruction
programmes by Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) are well under
way to assist in addressing these issues. The Network's efforts
towards restoring the country's health infrastructure received an
impetus in March 2003, with the inauguration of the Intermediate
Medical Education Institute's (IMEI) science laboratory in Kabul,
developed by AKU, an important component of AKDN.
There
are currently nine IMEIs in Afghanistan.
These governmental institutions have the primary responsibility
of training nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in
the country. The IMEI in Kabul
plays a central coordinating role for the provincial IMEIs in providing
standards, policies and curricula.
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| Intermediate
Medical Education Institute's science laboratory in Kabul, developed
by AKU-SON, was inaugurated by Dr. General Soheila Sediq (2nd
from right), Afghanistan's Minister for Public Health. |
AKU
School of Nursing (AKU-SON) undertook the task of enhancing the
operations of IMEI Kabul in order to create an academic centre of
excellence that meets the country’s needs for quality nursing, midwifery
and allied health personnel training. The facility would thereby
become a trendsetter for other IMEIs. The goal encompasses setting
educational policies and procedures, revising curricula to an international
standard, as well as improving the learning environment and providing
sustained operational support
Dr.
General Soheila Sediq, Afghanistan's
Minister for Health, chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of
the science laboratory at IMEI Kabul, noted that "The government
recognises the role of IMEI as a focal point in capacity building
of health care professionals in Afghanistan."
She also alluded to the challenges set for the School
of Nursing in January
2003, when her delegation, comprising officials from WHO and IMEI
administrators, sought AKU's assistance in the rebuilding of IMEIs
across Afghanistan.
In
her welcome address, Dr. Yasmin Amarsi, Dean, AKU-SON, said, "Already
in three months, several milestones have been achieved in our work
in Afghanistan.
These include the initiation of curriculum review of nursing and
midwifery programmes, setting up of a computer laboratory and computer
and English classes for administrators, faculty and students. Today
is certainly another high point."
The laboratory will offer state-of-the-art technology to teach science
to nursing, midwifery and allied students, with the opportunity
for them to enrich their education with practical laboratory experiences.
Dr. Amarsi acknowledged the assistance of several donor agencies
such as WHO, USAID and UNICEF, that have served as staunch partners
in AKU's efforts towards the reconstruction of IMEIs.
The
event was also attended by US Ambassador to Afghanistan,
Robert Finn; Director for Policy and Planning, Ministry of Health,
Afghanistan,
Dr. Abdullah Sherazi; and other senior representatives of international
agencies.
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| The
laboratory will offer state-of-the-art technology to teach science
to nursing, midwifery and allied students. |
In
his address, the US
Ambassador to Afghanistan
announced USAID's commitment of US$ 100 million over a five-year
period for the health sector in Afghanistan,
"primarily for health clinics in the rural areas to reduce
the maternal and infant mortality rate." The President of IMEI,
Dr. Khalil Musadiq, appreciated AKDN's work in Afghanistan
as well as AKU for its work with the IMEIs.
Over
the next five years, AKU plans to extend technical assistance and
institutional capacity building support to several regional IMEIs,
to further strengthen human resource development in Afghanistan.
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