President Dr Mohamed Muizzu on Thursday evening reaffirmed his Administration’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the health sector by all available means.
He made these remarks while addressing a ceremony held at Barceló Nasandhura Malé Hotel to mark World Health Day, underscoring the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle in order to meaningfully contribute to national development.
Accompanied by First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed, President Dr Muizzu received the World No Tobacco Day Special Recognition Award from the World Health Organization (WHO) during the ceremony. The award recognises his leadership in tobacco control and the bold steps undertaken to steer the Maldives towards becoming a tobacco-free nation.
In his speech, the President highlighted progress achieved in the health sector over the past 18 months, citing policy reforms, ongoing development projects, and new initiatives. He also acknowledged the challenges that persist, despite considerable efforts to improve infrastructure, develop skills, and strengthen the healthcare workforce.
He specifically pointed to the difficulties in recruiting an adequate number of local nurses to meet demand. To address the shortfall, foreign nurses are currently being employed. The President urged trained Maldivians to come forward and apply for nursing roles.
Emphasising the drive to reduce wastage of public funds within the health sector, the President noted that recent measures to ensure a steady supply of medicines were expected to bear fruit in the near future.
President Dr Muizzu expressed concern over the suffering faced by innocent people around the world. He particularly condemned the Israeli transgressions against innocent Palestinians in Gaza, stating that such atrocities pose grave threats to civilian lives.
He also drew attention to the significant health risks posed by climate change, especially to geographically isolated small island nations like the Maldives.
While celebrating milestones such as the Maldives' certification by the WHO for the elimination of polio, malaria, lymphatic filariasis, and neonatal tetanus in pregnant women, the President acknowledged that many challenges still lie ahead.
He reiterated the Administration’s commitment to building a robust, reliable, primary, preventive, and curative healthcare system, ensuring access to medical treatment regardless of geographic location. Despite the challenges, the Administration remains resolute in prioritising the needs of the people.
President Dr Muizzu reaffirmed the Government’s dedication to delivering high-quality, affordable healthcare, with an unprecedented emphasis on preventive measures. He described the WHO award as a testament to the broad recognition of the bold actions taken to create a tobacco-free Maldives, and urged the public to view such reforms as progress, not impediments.
