Dear Colleagues, Students and Friends,
In every community the Aga Khan University seeks to provide care, one truth continues to stand out. Behind every moment of healing, every story of recovery, and every sigh of relief, there is a nurse or midwife making it possible.
Today, I want to take a moment to truly recognise the people who make our mission of improving health of communities possible. I am speaking to the nurses and midwives in our health care system, our faculty members shaping the next generation, and the students who are just beginning their journeys as nurses and midwives. You are not just “part” of our system – you are the system.
Your contributions to improving health of the people we serve are numerous. It is in your knowledge, your competence, the evidence-based decisions, and the compassion you bring to every interaction. It is in the moments where your vigilance prevents harm, your skill restores health, your advocacy promotes health of communities and where your empathy brings comfort to those in need of care.
I want to also recognise the growing importance of advanced practice nursing and midwifery, an area where we are leading in at our School of Nursing and Midwifery, reflecting the growing global recognition of the vital role nurses and midwives play in strengthening health systems.
At AKU, we’ve always believed that great health care isn’t just about better technology – it’s about the extraordinary talent of the people providing it. From our very first academic nursing programme in Pakistan to our growing presence across Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, our goal has remained the same: to prepare you not just to work in health care, but to lead it.
Today, that vision lives on through our alumni — now more than 9,000 strong — who are making a difference in communities around the world. They are advancing research, shaping policy, strengthening health systems, and opening doors for those who will come after them.
What makes me especially proud is that this impact continues to grow through each of you – in classrooms, in healthcare settings, in policy tables and in communities.
Looking ahead, our commitment to you is clear. We must continue to invest in nursing and midwifery education and practice, to create opportunities for growth and leadership, and to ensure that your voices are heard where decisions are made. Because nurses and midwives make communities and nations stronger.
Thank you for the care you give, the lives you touch, and the future you are helping to build.
#InternationalNursesDay #IND2026 #ThankYouNurses #InternationalDayOfTheMidwife #IDM2026 #AKUSONAM
