Aga Khan University is assisting in the rebuilding process of Afghanistan, through Aga Khan University Hospital’s (AKUH) role in managing the French Medical Institute for Children (FMIC) in Kabul. On April 8, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, French First Lady Mme. Bernadette Chirac, and His Highness the Aga Khan, Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), inaugurated the FMIC in war ravaged Kabul. FMIC is a paediatric surgical hospital, founded by the French charitable organisations, La Chaîne de l'Espoir and Enfants Afghans.

Four party public private partnership: French First Lady Mme. Bernadette Chirac, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and His Highness the Aga Khan at the inauguration of the French Medical Institute for Children in Kabul.

 

Afghanistan's dismal health care indicators are a cause for universal concern. The country has one of the world's highest infant and maternal mortality rates. One child in four dies before the age of five. Every 30 minutes, a woman dies from pregnancy-related causes and the average life expectancy of 42 years is one of the lowest in the world. The war torn country suffers from an acute lack of qualified and skilled health care manpower. In some districts, there is just one doctor for 50,000 people. Some large districts do not have access to a single medical doctor.

AKUH, Karachi has earned the reputation for its high standards in medical and nursing care and making its services accessible through its patient welfare programme. In Afghanistan, Aga Khan University School of Nursing (AKUSON) has been training nurses for four years and its curriculum, which has been translated into Dari and Pashto, was adopted as the national standard.

Through the association with FMIC, AKUH will continue to train Afghan physicians, nurses and technicians. Afghan physicians associated with the FMIC will have an opportunity to receive training at AKUH in Karachi as well as at hospitals in France.

FMIC specialises in paediatric care and aims to provide accessible and cost-effective quality medical care to Afghan children. The 85-bed Hospital provides modern diagnostic, medical and surgical services and offers in-patient and outpatient services in paediatric medicine and surgery, cardiology and orthopaedics.

Under the four-way partnership agreement, the French and Afghan governments as well as AKDN and private donors will provide financial support for administrative staff, medical training, equipment and patient welfare. La Chaîne de l'Espoir will work with AKUH to bring surgeons, nurses and medical technicians from France, other European countries and North America for short term assignments.

This partnership will contribute towards the rebuilding of Afghanistan by upgrading the infrastructure and manpower available for improving health care statistics and ensuring enhanced quality of life for the people of Afghanistan.