Nairobi, Kenya, 12 January 2017 - As part of one of the largest expansions of quality health care services in East Africa, the Aga Khan Development Network and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) today signed agreements for a total of US$19.5 million towards the improvement and expansion of the Aga Khan Hospitals in both Kisumu and Mombasa. The total project cost is $27.8 million (over Kenyan Shilling 2.8 billion). The balance investment of $8.3 million is a grant from the Aga Khan Development Network.

Under the agreement, the two Aga Khan Hospitals will strengthen existing services, expand diagnostics and upgrade the quality of service delivery and facilities to international standards

In Kisumu, the Aga Khan Hospital, will grow to a 100-bed facility (from the current 61 beds), expand its women and child health programme, implement elements of cardiology and cancer programmes that are part of the regional AKDN continuum of care approach and create a niche programme in infectious diseases with linkages to non-communicable diseases. In addition, the Hospital will expand its footprint by establishing an additional ten Outreach Health Centres.

The Aga Khan Hospital, Mombasa major expansion, will include the establishment of an invasive cardiology programme, a day care chemotherapy centre, a neonatal high dependency unit and a niche in rehabilitation medicine. Additionally, the Aga Khan Hospital Mombasa will expand its reach in the Coast Region by establishing an additional ten Outreach Health Centres during the planned period. The Aga Khan Hospital Outreach Health Centres serve as “hubs” for the AKDN’s expanding East Africa Integrated Health System in the region, which is dedicated to providing high-quality health coverage at affordable prices to an economically diverse population.

The Agreement was signed by the AFD Regional Director, Mr Bruno Deprince and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Aga Khan Health Service, Kenya, Mr Moyez Alibhai.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, French Ambassador Designate to Kenya, H.E. Antoine Sivan noted that AKDN and AFD’s common focus on health was important and strategic in East Africa. “This is important not only because ‘every life counts’, but also because few investments in other sectors can generate such human and economic benefits,” he said. “Improved quality and access to health is one of the most efficient mechanisms to reduce inequalities and improve long-term economic growth. “
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Chairman of the Board. Mr. Alibhai stated that it is clear that this expansion will programmatically upgrade our hospitals to a significantly higher level and will allow for people of Kisumu and Coast to receive much of their care in their respective regions. The focus is on creating strong health care systems that can contribute not only to infectious but also to the growing non communicable diseases of cardiology, oncology, trauma.”

AFD and AKHS also signed a second agreement for a US$ 266,000 (Euro 250,000) grant from AFD for capacity building in palliative care in all four hospitals in East Africa (Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, Aga Khan Hospital Mombasa, Aga Khan Hospital Kisumu and Aga Khan Hospital Dar es Salaam). Dr. Gijs Walraven, the Director of Health for AKDN thanked AFD for the grant and stated that AKDN, as part of a continuum of care is very much committed to providing palliative care. A baseline assessment has shown non-availability of services, lack of awareness of what palliative care can do and stigma and misunderstanding that demonstrates the poor state of affairs. We are looking forward to our partnership with Institute Curie in Paris and capacity building of our staff, as well as a close working together with County health professionals in this field.

NOTES

The Aga Khan Health Service, an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network, provides high-quality health care that is intended to raise the health status of people in the Mombasa and Kisumu areas through two hospitals, 11 outreach clinics and related health programmes. In addition to providing patient care, both preventive and curative, in the rural and urban settings, there is an emphasis on health systems development though an Aga Khan University-managed community health department in the Mombasa Hospital. Both hospitals have been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 (International Standardization Organization) certification for conforming to international quality standards in systems and process.

Over the last century, the Aga Khan Development Network’s many programmes and diverse institutions in health, education, finance, tourism, media and culture have helped improve the quality of life in the country’s most resource poor communities. By partnering with the Government and the private sector, AKDN is ensuring that a civil society is contributing, in collaboration with the state, towards empowering communities to develop their own educational standards, meet healthcare needs and generate financial activity to enable resources to be accessed by those in greatest need.

AFD, a public financial institution that implements the policy defined by the French Government, works to combat poverty and promote sustainable development. AFD operates on four continents via a network of 75 offices and finances and supports projects that improve living conditions for populations, boost economic growth and protect the planet. In 2015, AFD earmarked EUR 8.3bn to finance projects in developing countries and for overseas France.

In Kenya, AFD Group’s support primarily focuses on:

• Developing infrastructure, particularly for energy and transport, with specific focuses on environmental issues;
• Supporting urban development by financing integrated urban programs and key investments, with a focus on water and sanitation sector;
• Supporting economic growth by promoting private sector in various initiatives (renewable energy, higher education, affordable housing, health…).

The AKDN and the French Government have a long-standing relationship internationally and in Kenya. In line with the co-operation in the social, cultural, economic and humanitarian fields defined in the Accord of Cooperation between the AKDN and the French Government signed in 1999, AFD has supported multiple projects in Kenya including the US$50 million Heart and Cancer Centre at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, a $53.5 million financing for the expansion of of the Aga Khan Hospital Dar es Salam and a two year loan facility of US$ 11 million, at concessionary rates, to Diamond Trust Bank for financing eligible energy efficient and renewable energy projects. The Government of France, through Proparco, also has equity investments in the Serena Hotels in Maputo, Dar es Salaam and Kampala. Proparco has also provided financing towards the Bujagali Hydroelectric project in Uganda.

For more information please contact:

Edina Mullumba
Public Relations Manager
The Aga Khan Hospital, Mombasa
Email: edina.mullumba @akhskenya.org
Cell: + 254 721 385850

Rita Gachahi
Public Relations Manager
The Aga Khan Hospital, Kisumu
Email: rita.gachahi@akhskenya.org
Cell: + 254 722 652996