Health Sector has greatly suffered in the recent past, due to the lack of adequate technical consultation when coordinating public health programmes: President Waheed

President Dr Mohamed Waheed has said that the health sector of the country has greatly suffered in the recent past, due to the lack of adequate technical consultation when coordinating public health programmes. The President made this remark while speaking at the foundation laying ceremony of the new building of Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital.

Speaking in this regard, the President said that in managing a hospital and taking preventive measures against diseases, the government has failed to carry out the public health care programmes as it should, and that it has been a great loss to the health sector of the country. Continuing on, the President noted the efforts undertaken in the last year to recover the losses faced in the health sector. However, he also said that we still have not been able to keep pace. He further highlighted the losses faced due to the different political changes undergone in the country, and the effect it has on the various state institutions.

In his speech, the President said that we don’t secure good health by building a hospital, and highlighted the importance of a healthy lifestyle. In this regard, the President stressed the importance of taking preventive measures against diseases, saying that it was an endeavor to be undertaken by all institutions and not just the health sector. Continuing in this regard, President Waheed spoke of the need to identify what needs to be done at an individual level, to shape our lives to be healthier.

Speaking at the ceremony, the President said that the foundation for the new building of the Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital was being laid with high aspirations, and underlined the numerous potential benefits for the people of Ungoofaaru. In this regard, referring to the Ungoofaaru Tourism Zone, inaugurated prior to the foundation laying ceremony, the President appealed to the people to consider development of medical tourism in Ungoofaaru. He noted the advancement that would bring to the hospital, and the possible increase in the island’s revenue. He further assured of the government’s support and cooperation.