All Praise be upon God, اللهُ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. Peace and blessings be upon Prophet مُحَمَّدُ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ his family and his companions.
C.E.O. of I.G.M. Hospital, Ibrahim Saleem; Minister at the President’s Office Ali Shiyam; C.E.O. of Bank of Maldives; Vice Chairperson of Board of Trusties; Medical Director Doctor Aminath Nazeer, our close friend Dr Shifan who is the in charge of the Oncology Department; all the staff, distinguished guests and ladies and gentlemen.
This gives me great pleasure here, joining all of you in the opening of this special ward for those requiring oncology services. I would like to thank the Bank of Maldives (BML) for this very important initiative taken. We also would like to know that the Bank of Maldives is very much involved across the country, especially in the areas where people need things the most; especially for those vulnerable areas, children and women. Thank you so much.
If we look back at last few years, we see that we have come a long way. Every government, every Administration had paid very close attention to this area. I can tell you that this is one area that this Administration, especially today’s President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has paid special attention.
We have also seen that I.G.M.H. has been growing for the last many years, that has added new services for people coming from all over the country. This is one such very important care, very important service that we are witnessing here today.
Not to mention much, but I would like to say that, with the I.G.M. Hospital we have gone a long way with our regional hospitals, made lots of advancements with the technology and human resources available here. We see that especially in the five hospitals from north to south are starting every week, every month new services, that is very new to the people and giving lots of ease to those who are living in the vicinity.
One policy of this Government was that providing health care facilities in the islands and atolls, bringing an end to those who have been travelling in the rough seas and also for the waiting time, and spending a lot of time here in Malé in a queue for the services.
I think we have made tremendous changes, good changes and the people are benefiting from that today. I see a great future with a great team here in the Maldives. We also should not forget the rest. There are many involved. The private hospitals, private clinics, and those doctors all around making this significant change. So we got to work together especially in areas like this. I was lucky enough to work on my personal capacity with Dr. Shifan also a few years ago, and I personally know how good they are, how much they love their patients. So thank you very much, Dr Amru, I can see him. Dr Shifan. We have had many meetings at the President’s Office and we have had many discussions on how we can go forward. It was a good experience for me.
There are areas, of course we are very much concerned. I think there are things that we can control within our capacity, there are things that may not be. But I think as the C.E.O. has said this is a global, there is a rise, an increase in the cancer globally. Today, we are seeing the same thing here in the Maldives. This is very much worrying to see that NCDs, non-communicable diseases are increasing with a rapid speed. We need to be careful, we need to be cautious, we need to listen to our doctors. I think if we pay attention to these and bring changes to our lifestyle there is something that we can do. So my advice to all the citizen of this country is, think about yourself, and think about your children, family and friends. And always adapt new good ways, not just a new way, good ways of living your life. We never know for how long we will live, but to stay healthy should be a priority. I hope with this it is going to help a lot of people.
There is another worrying thing that I would like to say before I just get of this podium. For sure we can control somethings, which is very much a worrying are for the doctors and also for the families today, the accidents that is happening nonstop especially in southern atolls, Addu, Fuvamulah and Laamu Atoll where we have new modern roads. You know driving at very breakneck speed every day, and also the driveways that are connected to the bridge we see every day. I don’t have to tell the doctors, they know better than me. I think this is something that we can control. So my dear friends, please be careful while driving. Make sure that you come back home safe. Your loved ones, your family, everyone is waiting to live a loving life with you. For the parents, it is a responsibility to advice the young children driving like this and losing their life, or maybe just becoming a person disabled for the whole life. So these are very much worrying areas and I am very concerned today. I think I have said the same thing many, many times, because I am very much concerned about this, very much concerned. I am worried about this. So this is my last piece of advice. Please be safe while driving, while walking on the road, wherever you are in the Maldives please.
It is a great pleasure for me to spend time at the hospitals, visiting the hospitals, seeing doctors. I love them very much.
Thank you so much for the tireless efforts the doctors and the staff making, as I have said that I.G.M. Hospital, and the hospitals in Malé, areas and the whole in the Maldives has brought good changes. Let’s work together. I am very much sure that we can bring good changes. We are never close to an end, we are never, there are so much we can do, but we can only do it with many hands. With the assistance and cooperation and support of everyone. So I stay as one, always with you.
Thank you very much.