On the occasion of French Cooperation Day, Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Hon. Dr. Seif Rashid, today joined the French Ambassador, His Excellency Marcel Escure and visiting dignitaries from the Agence Française de Développement (French Agency for Development – AFD) at the Aga Khan Hospital to mark the expansion of the Aga Khan Hospital.
AFD is providing a concessional loan of US$ 53.5 million (Tshs 90 billion) for the expansion. The Aga Khan Development Network is contributing an additional US$ 26.3 million (Tshs 45 billion). The expansion encompasses the establishment of tertiary level programs at the hospital, the creation of 30 outreach health facilities across Tanzania and the means to start much-needed post-graduate residency programmes in surgery and medicine.
The dignitaries toured several units within the hospital, including the oncology unit (launched earlier this year) as well as the cardiology and nuclear medicine suite, which is currently under construction.
Dr. Seif remarked that the “Aga Khan Hospital is one of the oldest premier health institutions providing quality health services to the majority of Tanzanians. I am very delighted to see that they are eager to bring cutting edge technology and clinical programs to this crucial sector in the country. As a government, we promise to continue supporting them because we greatly value the private sector contribution towards the development of this country. Most important for us is to provide a conducive environment for them to operate smoothly.”
His Excellency, The Ambassador of France Marcel Escure, said that Tanzania and France have a long and deep history of collaboration and that they were delighted to finance the expansion of the Aga Khan Hospital, which will continue to raise the standard of healthcare in Tanzania. He further said that as a result of this development Tanzanians will no longer have to travel out of Tanzania to receive top class and quality care.
He also remarked that AFD and the French Government have a history of partnership with the Aga Khan Development Network and were extremely happy with the new project. “I am impressed with the projects that the Aga Khan Development has implemented that cater to majority of Tanzanians in need.” he said. “The number of patients is increasing every day, so there is a need to increase access and improve ways to facilitate their further development.”
Ambassador Marcel Escure concluded that the “French government, through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) will continue to support the Aga Khan Development Network and its projects”.
The Aga Khan Development Network’s representative, Amin Kurji, reiterated that the hospital is “working tirelessly to make sure it expands its services by increasing the physical infrastructure and facilities and by improving health services so as to serve more Tanzanians”. He also explained that “in addition to establishing tertiary level programs at the hospital this funding from AFD will also allow the Aga Khan Hospital to establish 30 outreach health facilities across Tanzania and enable the start of much needed post graduate residency programs in Surgery and Medicine.”