Setting a new standard for adolescent health and wellbeing in Khorog, Tajikistan
As youth mentors, Pokizamo and Gulbahor train their peers to be better prepared for all of life’s changes as teens transition from childhood to adulthood.
Health and Nutrition
The challenge: Globally, at least 400 million people lack access to essential health services. Every year, more than five million children die globally before their fifth birthday largely due to preventable or treatable illness, and this risk is twice as high for children born into poverty. Risks are also high for women: the proportion of women who do not survive childbirth is 14 times higher in the developing world than it is in developed countries like Canada.
Moreover, global nutrition statistics indicate that almost half of deaths in children under five are linked to poor nutrition, and 790 million people worldwide do not have the calories they need to reach their full potential. Access to and uptake of health and nutrition services are also often hindered by gender, social, cultural, and financial barriers, which have implications for lifelong well-being and productivity.
Our solution: We harness the longstanding work of the AKDN with communities and village organizations to enable people – particularly those living in geographically remote areas – to optimize their health and well-being and reach their full potential.
Our programs help people make healthy choices and get quality care when an issue arises – even in remote areas. We promote public and community health awareness, teach and train health professionals of all kinds, and improve health facilities, ranging from basic rural clinics to specialized centres for treatment and research on a global scale. We work with communities to encourage positive health and nutrition behaviours, improve access to nutritious crops, and integrate nutrition into health systems. We aim to build efficient, appropriate, and sustainable health systems, and improve the health and nutritional status, especially for vulnerable groups like women and children.
- All
- Agriculture and Food Security
- Civil Society
- Climate Resilience
- COVID-19
- Early Childhood Development
- Education
- Engaging Canadians
- Gender Equality
- Health and Nutrition
- Work and Enterprise
Meet Mufida, the first midwife in her community
Mufida is a community midwife in rural Pakistan. She is the only community midwife in her village, which is located
Volunteering and saving lives: Meet Gul Mahoor
Gul Mahoor volunteers as manager of her community’s health relief fund in Pakistan.
Afghanistan today: An interview with Dr. Najmuddin Najm, CEO of AKF Afghanistan
An insight into the current crisis in Afghanistan, how AKF is responding and why hope endures.
In A Heartbeat: Expanding possibilities
In this short film, we learn how facilities like this one in Montepuez are growing to accommodate the needs of young Mozambicans.
In A Heartbeat: Starting the conversation
Teresa is a youth peer mentor in Mozambique, who educates her peers about their reproductive and sexual health and rights.
Spotlight on Yasmin Karim, Gender Advisor for Aga Khan Foundation, Pakistan
“Over my career, I have seen many gender advocates evolve and emerge. Society has also been transformed.”
Spotlight on Jennifer Elms, Gender Advisor at AKFC and AKF-US
“My hope would be that gender equality becomes so part of everybody’s DNA that integrating gender and using a gender lens will be a part of everyone.”
Spotlight on Zohra Bano, Regional Gender Advisor for Aga Khan Foundation
“I have been working on projects that focus on auditing gender equality, economic empowerment, health, education, conflict resolution, resilience building, climate change, to name a few.”
