First Lady Fazna Ahmed on Wednesday attended the closing ceremony of the International Joint Conference for Healthcare Professionals (IJCHP). The three-day conference, held from July 18 to 20, 2022 in Bandos, Maldives, was themed "moving from Silos to Synergy."

The First Lady said that she was hopeful that the knowledge shared at the conference would lead to improvements in care experiences and outcomes. She encouraged the medical professionals in attendance to adapt their approaches as needed, based on the evidence available to ensure they are doing their absolute best in every situation.

The First Lady stated that leadership plays a key role in maintaining high standards and effecting change. She shared her views as an educator on the benefits of shared decision-making and urged professionals and policy makers to recognise the potential to manage current challenges in order to shape the future.

In her remarks, the First Lady praised Dr Fathimath Shifaza for her contributions to the Maldives' nursing community even after migrating to another country and urged others to look up to her as an example of how people can influence and lead change in the community even if they no longer live in the Maldives.

During the ceremony, the First Lady awarded certificates to the participants who presented papers at the conference.

The conference was organised by the Maldivian Nurses Association (MNA) in association with the Evidence-Based Practice Health Champions Maldives and aimed to provide a platform to exchange ideas and discover best practices in healthcare.