Aga Khan University signed a memorandum of understanding with the government of Syria that will help improve the quality of nursing care and strengthen academic standards of nursing education in the country. The agreement was signed by Dr. M. Iyad Chatty, Syria's Minister for Health, Dr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, President of Aga Khan University and Mr. Mohamed Seifo, Resident Representative of Aga Khan Development Network in Syria.
The agreement covers a five-year programme in which AKU will provide technical support and build capacity of the Syrian Ministry of Health in the field of nursing education and services.
In addition to higher education for Syrian nurses at Aga Khan University School of Nursing, the programme will comprise continuous education courses in Syria. Training in speciality areas such as paediatric care, critical care, and oncology will be offered. Nurses will also receive training in clinical expertise as well as in leadership skills, computers and English. The programme will also provide for up to 15 students to pursue Bachelor in Nursing (BScN) and a further five students to pursue Master in Nursing (MScN).
The agreement also includes the establishment of a quality assurance nursing programme in two hospitals in the country, which was started in 2003 with the appointment of a nursing coordinator from Aga Khan University Hospital. By the end of 2007, over 15 hospitals will have initiated this programme with at least one hospital in each of the 14 Syrian provinces benefiting. The programme will also include the development of infection control systems in two hospitals.
"Nurses are a vital component of any health care system. This investment in our country’s resources is necessary if we are to sustain development" said Dr. Chatty emphasising the importance of co-operation in this sector. "While we have many partnerships in this field, we see AKU's School of Nursing as a priority partner given the integrated nature of our joint programme which includes curriculum design, education and leadership development."
"Drawing on AKU's experience in developing curriculum, teaching learning skills, language training, as well as in the quality assurance nursing programme, the five-year plan, whilst ambitious, is critical to improving nursing services in Syria and expanding the scope for the future" said Dr. Shamsh Kassim-Lakha.
A private, international university, AKU has ten teaching sites in seven countries. Its network of campuses and programmes in South and Central Asia, East Africa, Europe and the Middle East offers a wide range of programmes. AKU's Faculty of Health Sciences comprising a School of Nursing and a Medical College delivers diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes for health professionals, while its Institute for Educational Development offers certificate and degree courses for teachers and educational administrators. Its recently established Institute for the Intitute for Study of Muslim Civilisations aims to strengthen research and teaching on the heritage of Muslim societies. The University works closely with other units of the Aga Khan Development Network in the region.
