This archive report was first published on 14 July 2020.
As the world grappled with the Covid-19 pandemic, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Kenya demonstrated its long-term commitment to the country by providing critical support to the healthcare system and vulnerable communities.
With a presence in Kenya spanning over 100 years, the AKDN has a proven track record of responding to crises and adapting to changing circumstances. In 2020, the organization made a substantial contribution to the government's Emergency Relief Fund, while also implementing direct interventions to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.
The AKDN's healthcare initiatives were instrumental in supporting the country's healthcare systems. The Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi collaborated with the Ministry of Health to establish a 100-bed field hospital, which catered to the isolation of Covid-19 patients. The hospital also developed innovative solutions, such as using individual ventilators for multiple patients, thereby increasing capacity.
In Mombasa and Kisumu, the AKDN's hospitals ensured continuity of care to patients through medical tele-consultation and invested in new protective, diagnostic, and treatment equipment. Diamond Trust Bank, with its extensive network across the country, worked collaboratively with county governments to provide food relief packages to over 6,400 families through its DTB Gives Back initiative.
Jubilee Insurance Company's pledge towards Covid-19 relief ensured that numerous organizations received essential protective equipment, while also introducing medical tele-consultations through its partnership with SasaDoctor. The pandemic also had a profound impact on children and education, with the Aga Khan schools rapidly converting their teaching platform to distance-learning for over 4,800 students.
The Aga Khan Academies in Mombasa and Nairobi held virtual graduation ceremonies, attended by parents and guests from around the world. The Aga Khan University's Graduate School of Media and Communications held media training sessions for journalists to improve reporting around the pandemic, while also hosting webinars with prominent subject matter experts.
The Nation Media Group partnered with the Ministry of Health on the Safe Nation initiative to educate the public on safety measures, while also transforming its Nation Leadership Forum into a digital livestreaming platform to address the economic and social impact of the pandemic. The Aga Khan Foundation restructured its programs to focus on pandemic-related issues and partnered with the Nation Media Group to support its education initiatives.
Ensuring the safety of the AKDN's over 16,000 workforce and their families remained a priority. Industrial Promotion Services (IPS) educated and provided its workers with safety equipment, while also implementing safety measures in its companies. IPS continued to ensure uninterrupted food supply chains for the over 70,000 farmers it engaged with.
The AKDN's response to the pandemic was guided by the leadership of His Highness the Aga Khan, Imam of the Shi'a Ismaili Muslims. His Highness sees improving the quality of life of humankind as the mandate of his office, and the AKDN serves to further this vision.
On the 63rd anniversary of His Highness' ascension to becoming the Imam, the AKDN celebrated his vision and its contribution towards Kenya's Covid-19 response.
