Aga Khan regional CEO Suleiman Shahabuddin.[Photo/businesstoday]The Aga Khan Foundation has unveiled a new health facility in Kisumu built at a cost of Sh 5 billion (US$50billion).
Speaking during the opening of the facility, Regional Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sulaiman Shahabuddin said the move was made possible through French Government funding.
Shahabuddin, who heads the Aga Khan Foundation in East and Central Africa, said with that kind of support, the Aga Khan Kisumu Hospital’s bed capacity was expected to grow to 100 patients over the next five years.
The CEO cited the strong public/private partnership existing between the Foundation, Kisumu County government and other partners as the motivating factor which led to the faster growth and expansion of its facilities.
“Aga Khan Foundation has 300 such medical facilities across the world but we hope to work with other partners to grow this to cater for the ever growing population, more so in Africa among other developing countries still bedeviled by poverty and diseases,” he explained.
He said the Foundation has invested Ksh 20.6 billion (US$ 200 million) for the construction and expansion of 18 modern health facilities globally.
Kisumu Deputy Governor Dr Mathews Owili, who presided over the ceremony on behalf of the Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, said he was impressed with the ultra-modern medical facility located at Acacia Premier Hotel premises.
Dr Owili said the health facility will provide quality experience to those patients expected to seek treatment and even attract other new customers to patronize the facility only available in other top notch hospitals elsewhere.
He said the Aga Khan Foundation was highly commended for having chosen to locate such a huge investment in the Lakeside city, a sign that normalcy and peace was assured.