Mombasa, Kenya, 9 June 2017 - A state-of-the-art cardiac catheterisation laboratory at the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa was today inaugurated by Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta, the First Lady of the Republic of Kenya, in the presence of Princess Zahra Aga Khan and other dignitaries.

This development is another step forward in the US $27.8 million expansion of the Aga Khan Hospitals in Mombasa and Kisumu. In January this year, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) signed agreements for a total of US$19.5 million in long-term financing towards the expansion. The balance -- US$ 8.3 million -- is in the form of a grant from the Aga Khan Development Network.

The catheterisation laboratory at the Aga Khan Hospital in Mombasa, is the first in the Coast province and the second such facility to be established in the region by the AKDN (the first unit was established at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, in September 2008). The new unit consists of state-of-the-art equipment which is capable of performing complex cardiac procedures such as angioplasties, stenting of damaged cardiac vessels and pacemaker insertions and includes a 3-bed coronary care unit all supported by advanced radiology and other diagnostic services.

Her Excellency the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, in her remarks, reaffirmed the strong ties between AKDN and the Government of Kenya and thanked the AKDN for its support over many decades and its significant investments in Kenya. Welcoming the launch of the cardiology programme at the Aga Khan Hospital, she commented that the incidence of non-communicable diseases was growing at a rapid pace and that the catheterisation laboratory was a significant addition to the healthcare landscape of the Coast province. She thanked the AKDN for this milestone contribution and assured of the Government of Kenya’s complete support to the developmental agenda of the AKDN.

In her welcome remarks, Princess Zahra Aga Khan highlighted the long, diverse and rich partnership that exists between the Government of Kenya and the AKDN. “The AKDN is a trusted developmental partner and is committed to the strengthening of social services and in particular health and education in the country”, she remarked.  

Princess Zahra further noted that the launch of the cardiology programme would allow residents of the Coast province to receive world class care at home. “In an emergency situation, immediate cardiac care is required within 90 minutes for which a catheterisation laboratory is a must. The new unit would save many lives and also improve the quality of life of cardiac patients”, she commented. Princess Zahra further noted that the Aga Khan Hospital Mombasa will establish an additional nine Outreach Health Centres over the next 3 years in the Coast province, and develop an advanced programme in rehabilitation medicine, thereby significantly expanding its reach.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Regional Director of AFD, Bruno Deprince, 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’”, he said, “but also because few investments in other sectors can generate such human and economic benefits. Improved quality and access to health is one of the most efficient mechanisms to reduce inequalities and improve long-term economic growth.”

The catheterisation laboratory is part of the expansion of the two Aga Khan Hospitals (in Mombasa and Nairobi). The expansions are designed to strengthen existing services, expand diagnostics, upgrade the quality of service delivery, enhance facilities to international standards and establish 30 outreach health facilities in the Coast and Kisumu regions.

NOTES

The Aga Khan Health Services, 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 rural and urban settings, there is an emphasis on health systems development through an Aga Khan University-managed community health department in the Mombasa Hospital. Both hospitals have been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 (International Standardisation Organisation) 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.

For more information please contact:

Local:

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

International:

Semin Abdulla
Communications Manager
Aga Khan Development Network
E-mail: semin.abdulla@akdn.org