With the commencement of work at the Aga Khan University in Kampala, Ugandans who have been seeking world-class treatment, at a similar facility in Nairobi, Kenya, may breathe a sigh of relief.
The construction of the modern facility will soon commence in Nakawa, an eastern outskirt of the Ugandan capital. Work will be under the supervision of First Lady Janet Museveni and Princess Zahra Aga Khan.
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After completion, the Aga Khan University will offer modern training facilities for medical and other professions. It will also provide highly specialized curative treatment. It is expected to directly benefit the surrounding communities as well as Uganda and the rest of East Africa.
What will be offered at Kampala’s Aga Khan University
Internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology are among the training specialties for highly competent doctors and related patient services. Nurses, midwives, as well as other allied health workers will also be trained at the facility.
Princess Zahra Aga Khan, a trustee of the Aga Khan University, and First Lady Janet Museveni presided over the inauguration of the construction works. The facility’s construction is expected to significantly alter the city’s eastern skyline. It will also modernize land usage.
The First Lady, Janet Museveni, also acts as Uganda’s Minister of Education.
Once constructed, it is expected that the range and quality of treatments provided will allow the Ugandan government to treat its officials domestically. This would allow the country to avoid spending the billions it currently spends on medical tourism overseas.
Expectations for the project
According to Dr. Shahabuddin, the project will be undertaken in phases. Work will begin with the university hospital, teaching areas, and student residences. He stated that the first phase, which is expected to be completed by 2026, will cost $100 million (Shs370 billion).
Also, he claimed that graduates will employ their acquired skills and knowledge to improve health care in Uganda and beyond. Furthermore, a postgraduate medical education program would train specialist doctors in several fields, such as internal medicine, surgery, and pediatrics.
It will also venture into obstetrics and gynecology. This will strengthen Uganda’s existing team of specialists for improved service delivery. According to Dr. Shahabuddin, the Aga Khan University in Kampala, like the one in Kenya, will offer humanities, media, and communications courses in addition to sciences.
