The Government of Canada has extended a grant of USD 1 million to strengthen medical waste management in the Maldives.
The grant was officially extended during a virtual ceremony held at the Ministry of Health to inaugurate the project “Disinfection of Medical Waste”, jointly conducted in the Maldives by the Canadian government and the World Health Organisation (WHO). The project is to be managed out by the WHO Office in the Maldives.
Speaking at the ceremony, Health Minister Ahmed Naseem expressed gratitude to the Canadian government and WHO for the generous assistance provided for the development of healthcare services in the Maldives. The minister noted 40 autoclaves will be established in the atolls under the grant assistance. He added medical waste management facilities will be newly established in 10 atolls under this project.
Safe disposal of medical waste is crucial to contain the spread of communicable diseases such as COVID-19. Under the assistance of WHO, the Maldives has established a National Healthcare Waste Management Policy and Strategic Plan.