President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has called on the public to complete their first dose of COVID-19 vaccination as authorities prepare to administer the second dose.
The President made the call while speaking to the media in a virtual press conference held on March 10. During the press conference, he shared the latest details of the country-wide inoculation drive, among several other topics.
President Solih described inoculation of the whole population as the fastest way to move beyond the COVID-19 pandemic and implored all to set aside their political differences in this matter. He then reiterated his policy of making the COVID-19 vaccine equitably accessible to all Maldivian nationals and migrant workers—documented and undocumented migrant workers alike.
The President extended his heartfelt gratitude to all health sector workers and front line staff who had collectively dedicated themselves to the cause ever since the first case of COVID-19 was discovered in the Maldives.
The Maldives is at the forefront of most vaccinations administered on a worldwide scale. Over 165,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine had been administered so far; including over 95,000 doses in the Greater Male’ Area and 60,000 doses across the other parts. The number of migrant workers who had received the first dose amounts to over 22,500, including 373 undocumented workers.
President Solih also noted the government’s efforts to address the shortcomings in the health sector through decentralisation. He also spoke about the five tertiary hospitals’ progress in five regions of the country, detailing the service upgrades at the hospitals in Addu and Kulhudhuffushi cities.