President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom’s health manifesto is leading to all the success seen in the Health Sector within the past couple of years, says Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim.
Health Minister made the remarks while speaking on PSM News’ talk show “Maldives Today”. During the program the Minister highlighted numerous achievements, including Maldives’ accomplishment in eliminating measles and upgrading overall health services provided across the country.
Maldives is proud to be one of the first countries in the WHO South East Asia Region, to eliminate measles along with Bhutan, Minister Nazim said. He attributed this success to high political motivation from the government’s side, as well as the concentrated efforts of all health workers and culminated efforts of multi-sectoral government officials.
“Maldives have been fighting measles since long ago. The last outbreak of measles was in 2005, after which many measles elimination campaigns were held across the country. The most recent campaign was held in January, led by President Abdullah Yameen Abdul Gayoom. Once we started the campaign, with the health of WHO health professionals, we were able to convince public that the measles vaccinations have not much side effects to be worried about. I think the public acceptance and trust about measles vaccination went really well and we were able to achieve our targets during the campaign, it’s because of mainly couple of reasons like as I mentioned President led this campaign, so high political, motivation from the governments sides, as well as the concentrated efforts of all the health workers, and culminated efforts of multi-sectoral government officials, this is the main reason for having achieved this target,” Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim said.
Noting that the next challenge for the Maldives is to maintain the status, the Minister noted that relevant adjustments are being brought to policies regarding the approval of work permits for immigrants. He said that in that manner, work is underway to ensure that anyone who comes to work or for long term stay in the country gets vaccinated against measles.
The Minister stated that it is a vision led by President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's health manifesto, which is leading to all this success. Since this administration came into power, several new services have been introduced in regional hospitals such as dialysis service, thalassemia screening, upgraded laboratory facilities and digital x-ray machines, the minister added.
“Maldives health sector has gone through tremendous positive changes last couple of years. One very obvious and significant change is seen in the state hospital, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, IGMH. The current government has been able to invest more than MVR 200 million to upgrade IGMH. Which includes introduction its infrastructure plus introducing several new service, namely cathlab and uro-renal centre.
All the health facilities across the country, has been graded according to the size of the population, like we have very small health centres, very small atoll, regional hospitals and health centers. And these all health facilities has been graded according to the population or type of health normally required for such a size of population,” Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim said.
He highlighted that President Yameen has realized the first pledge he made when he came to power, to ensure that a doctor is available in each and every island. He also noted that pharmacies that provide Aasandha coverage have been established in all inhabited islands.