He noted that AKU had taken great strides in ensuring reforms in the country’s health sector urging the government to work towards the same. FILE.
Kibati, who was speaking during the 9th convocation ceremony of the Aga Khan University (AKU), said that it was important to reform the country’s health sector because it would have a direct impact to the realisation of the Millenium Development Goals, in the reduction of infant and maternal mortality rates.
He noted that AKU had taken great strides in ensuring reforms in the country’s health sector urging the government to work towards the same.
“Many people only see roads and related infrastructure as development but I am proud to see that the Aga Khan Development Network is playing its role in assisting us attain the Vision 2030 goals,” he said.
Fifteen graduates were awarded with degrees in the Master of Medicine programme while another 29 others received degrees in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing programme.
“We expect you to be leaders in this country, and therefore trailblazers, innovators and job creators who can help this country achieve Vision 2030,” he added.
AKU President, Firoz Rasul, also urged the graduands to uphold high standards as they served the public and developed in their career.
“Graduands, today you have achieved a significant milestone. An education is a long-term investment that you, your family and AKU have made in you,” he said.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Kenyan government for their support while assuring Kenyans of high education standards from AKU, as part of an agenda to push the envisaged health reforms.
“I would like to express our appreciation to the Government of Kenya for their ongoing support of our initiatives, which is critical to realising the impact for which we are striving,” he observed.
The ceremony was attended by vice-chancellors, senior government officials, diplomats, national and international academicians, donors and prominent citizens.
Yasmin Amarsi, Foundation Dean, School of Nursing and Midwifery, got the Distinction Award for contributing to the development of the University.
In 2011, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in Nairobi inaugurated the US$ 50 million Heart and Cancer Centre (HCC), which has proven to be a regional asset for treatment and management of chronic heart diseases and cancer.
The HCC is also a part of the AKU Faculty of Health Sciences, the only facility in the region involved in training doctors in the fields of cardiology and oncology.
The Medical College in East Africa, part of the Faculty of Health Sciences, is working with the School of Nursing and Midwifery and AKUH in Nairobi to build a new academic community that will provide health professionals.
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