Our Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On behalf of the Aga Khan Health Board for Canada, Imamat Day Mubarak to each and every one of you and your families. It has been a pleasure and honor to serve by your side over the course of the last year. As colleagues and volunteers, we have collectively supported the Jamat in responding to the pandemic, but have also been able to make considerable strides in key objectives and deliverables in advancing the health care of the Canadian Jamat. It has been inspiring to see so many Ismaili health professionals come forward to give of their time, knowledge and thought, and we look forward to continuing to work alongside you as we embark into a busy year ahead.

With your support, our institutions have come together in a united manner to ensure ongoing engagement, learning and programming is available to the Jamat. We have also listened to your feedback and tried to be responsive to some of the acute needs experienced by Canadian Ismaili health professionals, especially through the last few months during the pandemic. We continue to be committed to working with all healthcare professionals and para-professionals to ensure we can best support the work you are doing.

During the auspicious occasion of this Imamat Day we send prayers for the health, well-being, peace, safety and security of each and every one of you, your families and the Global Jamat.

With respect & admiration,

Munir Boodhwani Chairman Aga Khan Health Board for Canada	Ayaz Kurji Honorary Secretary Aga Khan Health Board for Canada

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Ismaili Health Professionals Engagement Team for Canada, we wanted to extend our heartfelt gratitude for all the incredible work so many of you have been doing, day in and day out for the Canadian Jamat but also for the wider communities in which we live. During the course of the pandemic, we have heard about the incredible impact heroes like yourselves have been making in the lives of Canada’s most vulnerable. Over the course of the last two months, our database has grown to over 2,300 members, including over 600 new members in April alone – all expressing an interest to serve the Jamat. This overwhelming response has been the fuel in supporting our Jamati Institutions to provide innovative, adjusted programming and information to the Canadian Jamat.

We have an exciting year planned ahead, including news on the Ismaili Health Professionals Conference, previously scheduled for this past June, a support platform, a new website, and more exciting webinars. We want to thank all of you for your support, ideas and recommendations.  On the occasion of Imamat Day this year, the entire National team joins me in wishing each one of you a very warm Imamat Day Mubarak.

In Service,

Kahir Lalji
Member for Special Projects and Ismaili Health Professionals Engagement
Aga Khan Health Board for Canada

Thank you to everyone who was able to participate in our recent Ismaili Health Professionals Survey, and shared with us their thoughts as we navigate the changing healthcare landscape together. We received responses from across the country, from various age groups and from professionals in different stages of their careers. Two clear messages have stood out so far: 1) At least 75% of health professionals have experienced increased stress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and 2) many health professionals are seeking ways in which to increase engagement with one another and/or with the Jamat. As we dive deeper into the survey responses, we will use the insights that were shared to inform our upcoming and future planning. Thank you again for taking the time to participate.

Thank you to all of you that supported our joint blood drive with CIVIC during National Blood Drive Week. We had over 100 units of blood donated nationally. A reminder to please sign up using our Partners for Life code CANA992061 when donating.