Aga Khan Maternal and Child Care Centre opens advanced NICU in Hyderabad to save newborn lives

HYDERABAD – The Aga Khan Maternal and Child Care Centre (AKMCCC), Hyderabad, has inaugurated a state-of-the-art Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), providing life-saving treatment for critically ill newborns in Hyderabad and nearby districts.

Until now, many families had to travel long distances to Karachi or other major cities for specialised neonatal care. With this new facility, AKMCCC aims to ease the burden on families and improve survival chances for fragile newborns.

Pakistan faces one of the world’s highest newborn mortality rates, with over 246,000 infants dying each year from preventable complications — an average of 675 newborns every day within their first month of life, according to WHO (2025). Limited access to advanced neonatal care outside big cities is a major contributor to this crisis.

Equipped with modern respiratory support systems, oxygen therapies, and advanced procedures for premature and critically ill babies, the NICU in Hyderabad is designed to deliver timely, high-quality care closer to home.

“This new NICU represents hope for countless families,” said Hyderabad Mayor Kashif Ali Shoro, chief guest at the inauguration. “It will save lives and bring vital care closer to people in this region.”

Dr. Farhat Abbas, CEO of AKU Health Services, Pakistan, emphasised the significance of the new facility: “Too many newborns in Pakistan lose their lives to preventable complications simply because specialised care is not available close to where they are born. This NICU will ensure access to the same high-quality care available in major cities.”

Since joining the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) network in 2010, AKMCCC has become a trusted provider of women’s and children’s health services, holding SafeCare Level 5 certification for patient safety and quality. The NICU launch strengthens its role as a centre of excellence in maternal and child healthcare.

“This is a major milestone in expanding neonatal care in Hyderabad,” said Dr. Mairaj Shah, COO, AKU Off-Campus Hospitals. “Our goal is to provide timely, specialised treatment and continue advancing AKMCCC’s commitment to families in the region.”

The inauguration ceremony was attended by civic leaders, officials from the Sindh Healthcare Commission, and senior doctors and executives from the Aga Khan University Hospital, highlighting a collective push to strengthen maternal and child health services.