Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) states the services provided by the Hulhumale’ Medical Facility (HMF) have improved with the increase in the number of staff working at the facility.
HMF is the main facility treating COVID-19 patients in the Greater Male’ Region. HRCM began monitoring the conditions at HMF following the large number of complaints from the public regarding the conditions at the facility.
Following a visit to the facility on May 25, HRCM reported delays in addressing or providing information to patients and their caretakers due to the shortage of nurses and the increase in the number of daily hospitalisations. HRCM detailed that their busy schedules causes nurses and attendants to forget to hand over food sent by the family of the patients and that, while patients are to be given food approved by a dietician, the team had observed that some food given to patients do not meet the health standards.
Following the visit on May 25, HRCM submitted its findings and recommendations to the relevant authorities to improve the services provided by the facility. HRCM held a meeting this week with senior officials of the Ministry of Health, Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and HMF to determine the progress achieved in implementing HRCM’s recommendations.
Following the meeting, HRCM revealed the services provided by HMF have improved considerably with the increased number of staff working at the facility. As such, HRCM noted the facility is now able to monitor all admitted patients more closely and assist them better. HRCM also noted it has been informed that arrangements have been made to triage patients at other facilities before taking them to HMF.
The latest surge of COVID-19 cases in the Maldives led to the overcrowding of HMF, with many patients admitted in the facility suffering due to the limited staff and resources at the facility. Several volunteers responded to the call by Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC) for assistance in the operations of HMF to reduce the burden on healthcare workers at the facility. Meanwhile, Hulhumale’ Hospital also began treating COVID-19 patients to reduce the load on HMF.