Salih and Anwar Honoured for Helping Shape Maldives’ Economy and Health System Over Decades of Service

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu conferred two of the nation’s highest honours on veteran public figures Mohamed Salih and Moosa Anwar, recognising their decades-long contributions to economic development and public health, respectively. The awards were conferred during the official Republic Day ceremony held at the Social Centre in Malé on Tuesday.

Mohamed Salih, a pioneering entrepreneur and public-sector leader from Hulhudhoo in Addu Atoll, received the Order of the Dignified Rule of Muleege Dynasty for more than fifty years of service to the Maldivian economy. Moosa Anwar, a senior health professional from Meedhoo in the same atoll, was awarded the Highest Honour for Service in the Maldives’ Health Sector, acknowledging over four decades of leadership in healthcare.

Salih’s five-decade career helped shape tourism, trade, and enterprise across the Maldives

President Muizzu presented the award to Salih in recognition of his role in introducing diverse commercial ventures and fostering sustained economic growth across the country. Salih began his career in 1951 at the Royal Air Force station in Addu, where he served for approximately fifteen years in cargo clearance and construction. With savings accumulated during that period, he established Altaf Enterprises, marking his entry into the emerging tourism industry.

Over the ensuing decades, Salih expanded his business interests to include retail and wholesale operations. In 2000, he founded Damas Company, further consolidating his footprint in the private sector. His commitment to environmental preservation informed his approach to tourism development, integrating sustainable practices across his ventures.

His efforts in attracting the highest number of Chinese tourists to the Maldives were formally recognised by the government, underscoring his strategic influence in diversifying the nation’s tourism markets.

Salih was later appointed the first Managing Director of the Maldives Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), a state-owned entity established to accelerate tourism development across the atolls. Under his leadership, the MTDC initiated Herathere, a tourism project aimed at expanding economic activity in Addu Atoll.

His work extended beyond domestic development. By facilitating connections between Maldivian businesspeople and counterparts in member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Salih helped strengthen regional trade relations and broaden the country’s commercial reach.

In 2012, he launched Medica Hospital, marking a strategic expansion into the health sector. His philanthropic initiatives include the construction of mosques in various parts of the country and the establishment of prayer rooms within schools.

Recognition for Salih’s contributions has been consistent. In 2022, he received the National Award of Honour. His achievements in tourism were further acknowledged with the President’s Tourism Gold Award, presented during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Maldivian tourism industry. This year, President Muizzu also presented him with a special award for his efforts in strengthening trade relations between Singapore and the Maldives.

Anwar’s four-decade career helped build the foundations of modern healthcare across the Maldives

Moosa Anwar’s award was presented in recognition of his enduring commitment to strengthening the country’s healthcare system and promoting nationwide health awareness. His career began at the age of 16, when he joined the Regional Medical Centre operated by the Royal Air Force in Gan, Addu Atoll. The British presence in the region at the time provided Anwar with early exposure to clinical service, laying the foundation for a lifelong vocation in public health.

In 1977, he relocated to Malé and assumed the role of practical nurse at the then Allied Health Service Centre. This period marked a turning point in his professional journey, as he became deeply involved in developing the nation’s healthcare workforce. His contributions included training nurses, community health workers, and family health workers, as well as modernising the instruction of midwives serving across the country.

His work in clinical training led to broader responsibilities within the Ministry of Health. Anwar played a key role in expanding hospital services throughout the country’s atolls, an initiative aimed at decentralising healthcare access. He was also closely involved in the transformation of Malé Central Hospital into the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), now a cornerstone of the capital’s medical infrastructure.

In the later stages of his career, Anwar served at the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), where he continued to support public health through regulatory oversight and institutional development.