Spouse of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Secretary General, Ms Krishanti Weerakoon has paid a courtesy call on First Lady Fazna Ahmed. The call was held at the Presidential Residence, Mulee-aage this morning.
During the call, the First Lady and the Spouse of the SAARC Secretary General highlighted the importance of creating awareness on mental health issues and on seeking assistance. They conversed on the need for functional support groups for people with mental illnesses. They further discussed the challenges faced in the development of the education sector, especially the efforts of the Maldivian government in ensuring the continuity of education during the Covid19 pandemic.
Both the First Lady and Ms Weerakoon shared their experiences of the Covid-19. Ms Weerakoon enquired digital literacy in the Maldives, such as in education, referring to online classes for school children during the pandemic. The First Lady explained that the Government attaches high precedence to ensuring inclusivity and that many programmes that were conducted during the time, had been prepared out of necessity. She added that the lockdown situation was particularly hard on children and that the interventions were placed to lessen the impacts.
The First Lady also exchanged views with Ms Weerakoon on a number of topics ranging from challenges in conducting vocational training, drug rehabilitation programmes, the lack doctors and psychiatrists involved in mental health treatment, service improvements for care homes for children, and the Covid-19 national inoculation campaign “Dhifaau”.
Speaking at the call, Ms Weerakoon commended the First Lady’s work for many years in the past as an educator and her efforts in addressing social issues as well as her volunteer work. She further conveyed her wishes for the Maldives’ tourism to return to a normalcy. The First Lady and Ms Weerakoon expressed hope to meet again in the near future.
