Nairobi — Aga Khan institutions in Mombasa yesterday celebrated the Ismaili Muslim leader's Golden Jubilee with colour and pomp.

During the celebrations held at the Aga Khan Hospital, Mrs Azmina Jamal, a director with the Aga Khan Health Services, described the spiritual leader of Ismaili Muslims as a man devoted to helping mankind.

Mrs Jamal said the establishment of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) had helped to realise the social conscience of Islam through institutional action. She said the network brings together nine agencies as well as other programmes and projects that had grown over the past 50 years. Mrs Jamal said some projects, established during the jubilee celebrations, include Diamond Trust Bank, Jubilee Insurance Company Limited and Jubilee Fund limited. She said the AKDN operated in 35 countries across South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and North America.

"The combined mandate of the agencies is to improve living conditions and opportunities, and to help relieve society of the burdens of ignorance, disease and deprivation," she said.

The chief executive officer of the hospital, Mary Douglas, said the Aga Khan Hospital has set standards for health care provision at the Coast. She said the hospital started 62 years ago as a small clinic but has grown to become one of the most modern medical facilities in the country.