Vice President Faisal Naseem has held discussions with stakeholders from the health and education sectors regarding ways of strengthening the nursing profession in the Maldives.
The discussions took place at the President's Office on December 20. Discussions centered on overcoming hindrances to training nurses, enhancing government support to the profession, and addressing the discrepancy between the ratio of individuals who are trained in nursing and those who actively join the field.
The stakeholders highlighted the reason for the discrepancy stems from the difference in wages and allowances paid to local, as opposed to foreign, nurses. In addition to this, stakeholders also noted the proliferation in the amount of C-Sections performed in the Maldives, recommending to restore the compulsory 'midwifery' component to nursing training.
Speaking during the meeting, the Vice President stated President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih considers enhancing healthcare in the Maldives an urgent priority, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. He also congratulated the newly elected members of the Maldives Nursing and Midwifery Council (MNMC).
The meeting was joined by Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem, Minister of Higher Education Dr. Ibrahim Hassan and senior officials of the President's Office. Other stakeholders present at the meeting included the Registrar of the MNMC and high-ranking officials from Maldives National University (MNU) and MNMC.