-
The Aga Khan University’s campuses in Karachi and Nairobi participated in global clinical trials to assess the effectiveness of two potential vaccines for COVID-19.
AKU / Umaima Mughal
-
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Central Asia (UCA) has offered facilities for 90 beds on its Naryn campus grounds, Kyrgyzstan.
UCA
-
As part of its efforts to raise awareness of COVID-19 among disadvantaged and marginalised communities in Aswan, Egypt, the Aga Khan Foundation's Om Habibeh Foundation launched radio programmes, pinned posters around villages, and even distributed colouring books donated by UNICEF.
AKDN
-
In Afghanistan the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat provided disinfection materials, oxygen, personal protection equipment, communication materials and transportation facilities in Baghlan, Samangan, Kunduz and Bamiyan provinces, benefitting over 80,000 people.
AKAH
-
Aga Khan University Hospital’s clinical laboratories were the first private sector facility in Pakistan to introduce a COVID-19 test. When news of a new UK virus variant emerged, the University’s pathologists stepped up to support the Sindh government’s public health efforts by conducting genomic sequencing to confirm the presence of the mutation in Pakistan.
AKU
-
At the University of Central Asia's Naryn campus, Nurbek Moldokadyrov (left), Mayor of Naryn, and Emilbek Alymkulov (right), Governor of Naryn tour the arrangements for 90 observation beds provided by the University.
UCA
-
The University of Central Asia (UCA) has established a fund to assist families suffering as a result of the humanitarian and economic impact of COVID-19. Staff at UCA are donating a day’s salary to this fund on a voluntary basis, which will be distributed to families in need.
UCA
-
Like Aga Khan Schools in many countries, the Aga Khan Lycée, Khorog in Tajikistan has put protocols in place to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus.
AKES
-
The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat’s architects and engineers adapted prefabricated construction technologies, such as modular shelter units donated by Better Shelter, to meet the needs of emergency medical centres and provide a speedy response in remote mountain areas.
AKAH
-
In Rasht, Tajikistan, AKDN agencies including the Aga Khan Health Services, the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat and the Aga Khan Foundation have continued to work for their communities during the pandemic, as they have since 2002.
AKF Canada
-
In addition to food supplies, the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat has mounted a significant humanitarian response to the pandemic, including distribution of essential medicines and medical supplies and equipment to institutional and community partners.
AKAH
-
Three projects implemented in Afghanistan by the World Health Organization, UNICEF and a consortium led by the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) will contribute to strengthening the response capacity of health systems, testing and treating patients, improving infection prevention, raising awareness and reducing nutritional risks. The three projects will be supported by a grant of 35 million euros from the European Union (EU). The consortium will reach 8.4 million direct and indirect beneficiaries, including 4.3 million male and 4.1 million female beneficiaries, including children.
AKDN / David Marshall Fox
-
Faculty conducted a survey of nearly 80 intensive care units across Pakistan in the early stage of the pandemic. The study highlighted areas where further investment and training are needed in order to provide optimum care to COVID-19 patients.
AKU
-
To establish infectious diseases units in Dar es Salaam and Mwanza, the Government of Tanzania, the Aga Khan Health Services and the Agence Francaise de Developpement will extend their longstanding partnership.
AKHS
-
Gaudencia is a community health worker in Tanzania who took part in AKDN-supported COVID-19 response training. She goes door-to-door in her community to educate her neighbours about the importance of washing their hands and wearing a mask.
AKF Canada
-
In Tajikistan, a volunteer distributes information about COVID-19 prevention measures and explains to people the importance of hand-washing and wearing masks in public places.
AKDN
-
The Aga Khan Foundation helped Kimya build a greenhouse that has enabled her family to weather the pandemic.
AKF Afghanistan
-
University of Central Asia students in Khorog, Tajikistan maintain physical distancing in the campus cafeteria.
UCA
-
A 28-bed Emergency Response Centre for COVID-19 patients was inaugurated in Booni, Upper Chitral. The facility has 32 dedicated healthcare staff, including eight doctors and 20 nurses.
AKDN / Ihsan Ullah
-
UCA’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) in Faizabad (Afghanistan) has launched online classes for three groups of intermediate and pre-intermediate level learners. The English classes are being conducted by SPCE English Instructors. Pictured, Saboor Farid, SPCE English Instructor, leads an online class for 16 intermediate level learners.
UCA
-
In northern Pakistan the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat constructed six COVID-19 rapid response centres, four of which adapted flat-pack modular shelter units donated by Better Shelter to rapidly construct the centres such as this one constructed in nine days at the Aga Khan Medical Centre in Gilgit.
AKAH
-
A 103-year-old man, Mr. Aziz Abdul Alim, was tested for COVID-19 before being admitted into the Emergency Response Centre in Booni, Chitral, Pakistan.
AKDN
-
At Kabul's French Medical Institute for Mothers and Children (FMIC) – managed by the Aga Khan University – the lab team prepares to test for COVID-19.
FMIC / Abdul Samad Ibrahimi
-
An Aga Khan Trust for Culture team of health workers carried out the house-to-house WHO COVID-19 survey (for the Delhi Government) in 1,862 households.
AKDN
-
Whilst the Aga Khan Schools and non-formal programmes closed in response to government directives to contain the spread of COVID-19, teachers and leaders innovated to find ways to provide education and maintain learning continuity for students, through online and offline modes. In Afghanistan, the team modified their non-formal programmes so that they could be delivered by phone. In partnership with the AKDN telecom company, Roshan, teachers distributed SIM cards and study packs to students.
AKES
Related Information
Related Links
The healthcare activities of the Aga Khan Development Network began by tracking the pandemic in early 2020. It then engaged with Ministries of Health to develop country- as well as area-specific COVID-19 preparedness plans. The priority was to bolster government and AKDN’s diagnostic and care capacities and secure much needed supplies and test kits. By mid-March of 2020, an AKDN COVID-19 Global Task Force (GTF) was set up to mount a robust response to the pandemic across all agencies and the Imamat, and to make use of global learning.
The AKDN response ranged from frontline health workers testing suspected cases and treating mild and moderately ill patients, construction of additional temporary health facilities and increasing the capacity to treat severe and critical cases, to advising national authorities on their country’s response and preparedness. The AKDN COVID-19 GTF adopted three pillars for its work: slow and stop transmission, prevent outbreaks, delay and suppress the spread (or “flatten the curve”); provide optimised care for all patients, especially for the severely and critically ill; and minimise impact on communities, the vulnerable, social services and economic activity.