Health insurance coverage will extend to newborns with heart conditions - President

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that the enhanced insurance coverage services will extend to newborns with heart conditions and include assistance and support to the families.

Speaking at the ceremony to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Tiny Hearts of Maldives NGO held at Dharubaaruge, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih tonight said that National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) and Aasandha are working to resolve issues identified within the social health insurance scheme, and that the NGO would also be consulted in their area of expertise.

Tiny Hearts of Maldives is an association established in memory of Keyaan, the firstborn son of Ali Muaz and Fathimath Hishmath Faiz, the founders of the association. Keyaan was born with a congenital heart condition, which resulted in his untimely passing at the age of two and a half months.

Emphasizing that newborns with heart conditions are common throughout the globe, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih noted that many newborns have sadly lost their lives to such conditions. President Solih added that prior to the establishment of Tiny Hearts of Maldives, many Maldivians were unaware that such heart conditions in newborns are a result of congenital heart conditions. He added that the issue was brought to the governments’ attention through awareness efforts by the Tiny Hearts of Maldives.

Furthermore, President Solih highlighted that through the efforts of Tiny Hearts of Maldives over the past decade, the lives of a resounding number of newborns have been saved through early diagnosis. The President praised the efforts of the founding members of Tiny Hearts of Maldives, Ali Muaz and Fathimath Hishmath Faiz, as a national service.

Noting the remarkable healthy lifestyle programmes conducted by the Tiny Hearts of Maldives, the President assured that the government will work closely with NGOs to further promote healthier lifestyles and wellness programmes conducted by civil society groups for the benefit of the society.

During the ceremony, First Lady Fazna Ahmed launched a research overview of the work carried out by Tiny Hearts of Maldives over the past ten years.