In December 2020, the Aga Khan University (AKU) announced its plans to launch a clinical trial of a portable, low-cost ventilator that aims to make lifesaving treatment such as assisted “breathing” available to patients before they reach the hospital. Ventilators are currently only available in hospitals even though most patients with critical breathing problems need earlier access to breathing assistance. 

With the second wave of the Coronavirus, six AKDN agencies have come together to support Pakistan’s health system to manage the spread of the disease, with a focus on training and awareness-raising.