First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to leveraging her role as the Maldives’ First Lady, to address the increase of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Maldives. The remarks were made by the First Lady during her intervention at the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Committee Meeting, held as part of the 11th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary Annual Conference.
In her address, First Lady Sajidha stressed that NCDs contribute to alarmingly high mortality rates in the Maldives, noting that it is one of the biggest challenges the health sector faces. She underscored the crucial necessity of enhancing the capabilities within the healthcare sector and increasing public awareness to overcome this significant challenge. The First Lady also highlighted that the Maldives currently faces a shortage of specialists, especially in fields such as oncology.
Furthermore, First Lady Sajidha emphasised the importance of external support to bridge these gaps. She additionally shed light in challenges in reproductive health, particularly the social and emotional difficulties Maldivian couples face surrounding infertility. Noting that the number of Maldivians being diagnosed with NCDs is increasing, the First Lady reiterated her steadfast commitment to exert efforts to address this issue.
Commending the Merck Foundation’s campaigns as a source of inspiration, First Lady Sajidha praised the unity and shared learning among First Ladies at the conference, expressing her eagerness to apply the insights gained to strengthen the Maldives’ healthcare sector.