The Ministry of Health has launched the Primary Health Care Demonstration Site in Faafu Atoll. The project was launched by Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem and the Regional Director of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for Southeast Asia Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Dr. Poonam highlighted the developments in the health sector of the Maldives in the past eight years and said that Faafu Atoll has greatly benefited from the developmental initiatives. Minister Naseem noted the important role Director Poonam had played in eliminating cases of polio, rubella, and malaria from the Maldives.
WHO stated the project will enable population-level screening for select non-communicable diseases, strengthen healthy lifestyle counseling, and identify and refer common cancers and select mental health conditions through an integrated people-centered service delivery approach. As part of the project, local healthcare workers will work as one team to fulfill the long-term goal of providing instructions and consultations to the public to maintain their mental and physical health.