President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has advised Noonu Atoll Council to ensure that developmental plans are in line with those at the national level. He made the remarks in a meeting with members of the Noonu Atoll Council in Manadhoo.
At the meeting, members of the atoll council put emphasis on the role of local councils in working together with government offices and institutions to realise the targets of the administration's Strategic Action Plan (SAP). The councillors also shared with President Solih the developmental plans for the atoll and the challenges they face in discharging their duties.
Some of the main issues raised at the meeting related to housing, the jurisdiction of local councils, waste management, ferry services, and healthcare. They went on to speak about the new opportunities brought about by the administration-led amendments to the Decentralisation Act.
President Solih assured the council members that the administration would work with line ministries to find amicable solutions to their concerns. He also spoke extensively about the merits of the administration's decentralised development policy.
During the trip, President Solih toured the Noonu Atoll Hospital in Manadhoo and inquired into the progress of the project to develop an extension building for the hospital. He also met with the management and staff and learned about the services, including the need for an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The new hospital extension, which includes six outpatient department (OPD) rooms and a laboratory, is now completed. An announcement of tenders will be made this month for all furnishing requirements and the installation of medical-grade air conditioning systems, according to the President's Office.
President Solih's visit to Manadhoo is the third stop on his two-day tour of Noonu Atoll. He is accompanied by some members of his cabinet and senior government officials.