As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a serious global health crisis, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) are responding to the alarming situations in India and other countries struggling with second and third waves of infection.
At the outset of the pandemic, AKDN established the Global Pandemic Relief Fund to support the critical work needed to address the crisis. Over the last year, an outpouring of support to this fund has helped AKF and AKDN provide high-quality medical care, share public health messages, and meet the need for emergency food, medicine, and shelter.
With help from donors and the Global Pandemic Relief Fund, the AKDN worked with communities in Africa and Asia to reach:
people with public awareness messages on COVID-19 prevention
people through social safety nets, such as cash transfers and food distribution
children through distance learning – from early childhood development to secondary studies
Additionally, the AKDN’s work has continued across multiple geographies.
- In India, Aga Khan Health Services is supporting eight community facilities to provide first aid and oxygen to coronavirus patients, and the Prince Aly Khan Hospital has treated more than 1,800 COVID-19 patients and administered thousands of vaccinations.
- In Tajikistan, Pakistan, Kenya, and Tanzania, 21 field hospitals with more than 400 beds have been established for COVID-19 patients.
- In Central Asia and East Africa, an eHealth system is connecting communities in remote areas to virtual medical consultations.
Programs and initiatives supported by AKF USA are also helping communities with access to food, public health information, and sanitation. Read more about AKF USA programs in India, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan below.
