Association of Awareness, Recreation and Unity (AARU) has completed the development of the health centre in Bodufolhudhoo, Alifu Alifu Atoll.
Minister of State for Health Ahmed Adil and Ambassador of Japan to the Maldives Takeuchi Midori joined the handover ceremony, along with the Bodufolhudhoo Island Council and senior officials of the health centre.
Around USD117,000 was allocated to develop the Bodufolhudhoo Health Centre, which was provided under the Grant Assistance for Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) of the Government of Japan. The grant covered the provision of 31 medical equipment for laboratory and obstetric procedures, three beds for in-house patients, and for the construction of a labour room and a laboratory in the health centre.
Following the completion of the project, the health centre will be able to provide comprehensive primary care as well as services related to maternity, infant care and laboratory for the people in Bodufolhudhoo and nearby islands. The project was conducted by AARU, the first community-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) established in Bodufolhudhoo, with the support of the Bodufolhudhoo Island Council and the Ministry of Health. The project aimed to complement the ongoing efforts of the Government of Maldives to improve the health services across the country in order to reduce the reliance on health facilities in the Greater Male’ Region.
The GGP is part of the Japanese Official Development Assistance (ODA) implemented by the Embassy of Japan in the Maldives in order to empower people at the grassroots level. Since 1996, the GGP has been implemented in broad areas such as education, environment, health, transportation and energy in order to contribute to the sustainable development of the Maldives.