Education, health for Sh1.6tr AKDN boost

THE Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is about to implement an investment plan worth about $1 billion (Sh1.6 trillion) targeting education and health sectors in the country in the next few years, it has been revealed.

Among other things, AKDN is set to invest $80 million for phase 2 expansion of the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam; $800 million for expansion of Arusha University main campus and about $30 million which will be directed towards improvement of the Aga Khan Academy in Dar es Salaam.

This is in addition to investment expended to farmers in southern Tanzania, whose output has increased about three-fold following the AKDN boost.

The information comes at a time when exhibition -- dubbed ‘Rays of Light; Glimpses into the Ismaili Imamati’ -- is set to open in Dar es Salaam on Saturday at the Diamond Jubilee Hall.

Among others, the exhibition will be graced by the Vice President, Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal, Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, and former President Ali Hassan Mwinyi, each on a separate day.  The exhibition, which has so far been staged in Paris, Dubai, Lisbon, Uganda, Canada and the US, aims at showcasing 50 years of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan’s efforts in serving humanity, against the backdrop of the 1,400 years history of Ismaili Imamat.

“With Tanzania being home to several major initiatives, including the Aga Khan University in Arusha, the Aga Khan Academy in Dar es Salaam and the phase 2 expansion of Aga Khan Hospital, the exhibition provides an insight and a context into His Highness the Aga Khan as Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims,” said Jehangir Bhaloo, the President of Aga Khan Council in Tanzania.

Oncology programme, launched last week at the Aga Khan Hospital, is one of major breakthroughs marking the phase two expansion of the health facility in Dar es Salaam.
Source @ The Citizen