First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed has stated that wellness is an important blessing for every person and is closely linked to human safety. She made these remarks while speaking at a special ceremony marking World Diabetes Day 2024.
During her speech, the First Lady noted that as the Maldives had moved from the list of poor countries to developing countries, and with changes in Maldivians' living conditions, diet and lifestyle related diseases have begun increasing. She highlighted that instead of the communicable diseases that were previously common among Maldivians, non-communicable diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease related to diet and lifestyle have begun becoming more prevalent.
Extending her well wishes on World Diabetes Day, the First Lady explained that while diabetes is not communicable, its hereditary nature makes lifestyle choices crucial in managing the condition. She emphasised that when the Maldives was classified as a poor country, the people maintained healthier lifestyles with more physical activity and better dietary habits. She further pointed out that prosperity has brought significant changes to the type of food consumed, traditions, portion sizes and physical activity levels, which she identified as key contributors to the rise in diabetes cases.
At today's ceremony, the First Lady inaugurated the "Lifestyle Intervention Programme," which aims to assess how sustainable lifestyle changes can reduce the risk of developing diabetes and other non-communicable diseases. Under this programme, the population of Dhiggaru aged 16 and above will be screened, and those identified as high-risk for diabetes will be targeted to evaluate how lifestyle changes affect their health status. Ten individuals from Dhiggaru have already been trained as lifestyle coaches for this programme.
This year's World Diabetes Day theme, set by the International Diabetes Federation, is "Diabetes and Well-being," which focuses on mental, physical, and social well-being.
