President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has conferred the Highest Honour for Service to the Maldives Health Sector Medal on Moosa Anwar. The award was presented at the official Republic Day ceremony held this morning at the Maldives Centre for Social Education.
Moosa Anwar, originally from Meedhoo in Addu Atoll, began his career in the health sector as an interpreter at the Regional Medical Centre in Gan during the British protectorate. While serving there, he undertook available training in the medical field and went on to contribute to dental care and surgical theatre work. In 1975, he received the AOC Commendation from the Royal Air Force Gan in recognition of his dedicated service at the Gan Regional Medical Centre.
Following the British departure from Gan, Moosa Anwar moved to Malé in 1977 at the request of President Ibrahim Nasir and joined the public service. He began his new role as a Practical Nurse Instructor at the Allied Health Services Training Centre, while also serving as a dentist at the Central Hospital.
In 1979, he travelled to the United Kingdom to further his education and subsequently returned to the Maldives to serve as a tutor at the Allied Health Services Training Centre. Over the years, he held several senior positions, including Assistant Director and Deputy Director of the Centre.
He later joined the Ministry of Health, where he served in a range of capacities and was instrumental in establishing regional hospitals across the atolls of the Maldives.
Among his notable contributions is his active involvement in improving thalassaemia treatment services and raising public awareness of the disease. He also played a pivotal role in the establishment and early development of the National Thalassaemia Centre.
Additionally, Moosa Anwar provided technical expertise to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre and the Home for People with Special Needs in K. Guraidhoo. He contributed to the transition of services from the Central Hospital to the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH). His most recent position was at the Maldives Food and Drug Authority, where he played a key role in strengthening and expanding the Authority’s operations.
Moosa Anwar dedicated over 40 years to the Maldivian health sector, including more than 30 years in public service. He retired from government service on 23 July 2009.
