The National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has revealed that more than 11,200 individuals have been registered in the National Disability Registry.
Statistics from NSPA show that the highest number of individuals who registered in the first four months of this year have a mental illness. A person with a disability due to a mental illness is determined under the regulation on determining persons with disabilities and formulating and maintaining the National Disability Registry.
The regulation identifies various chronic brain conditions and disorders and determines whether an individual has a disability if their mental illness prevents them from fully functioning in society. As such, the regulation recognises depression, organic mental disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and an eating disorder, as well as involuntary self-harming behaviour as mental illnesses.
The statistics show that 179 individuals with mental illnesses have been registered in the National Disability Registry in the first four months of this year, raising the total number to 304. The second highest number of individuals in the registry are those who have more than one disability. A total of 162 individuals with more than one disability were registered in the first four months, raising the total to 2,148. In addition, 147 individuals with physical disabilities were registered in the first four months, raising the total to 3,192. The National Disability Registry now consists of 11,216 individuals under eight categories of disabilities.
The first national registry of individuals with disabilities in the Maldives was compiled and launched in January 2023. The government is working to strengthen various sectors to ensure the rights of people with disabilities and change the way people with disabilities are included in society. The registry was launched as part of the government's efforts to the necessary assistance to these individuals.