National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has stated that more than 10,000 individuals have been registered in the National Disability Registry as of December 2022.
Speaking to PSM News, NSPA said that 10,701 individuals were registered in the national register as of December last year. NSPA stated that with the National Disability Registry portal, the details of individuals with disabilities and their financial assistance will be decentralised and rural councils will be able to maintain their information.
In addition, NSPA stated that it will empower persons with disabilities and pave the way for various government institutions, IBAMA community social group, and various government social service providers such as the Family and Children’s Service Centre (FCSC), to provide more needed assistance in relation to existing disabilities.
The first national register of individuals with disabilities in the Maldives was compiled and launched on January 5, 2023. The government is working to strengthen various sectors to ensure the rights of people with disabilities. As such, the gender ministry is paying special attention to changing the way people with disabilities are included in society. There are no official statistics stating the exact number of disabled people in the Maldives, nor is it possible to determine the type of disability. At the same time, various types of congenital disabilities are increasing, and no data has been collected in the country. Therefore, there are many obstacles to providing state care to such people. There have also been difficulties in formulating policies and providing services for people with disabilities. Therefore, the new register will make it easier to provide the necessary assistance to these individuals.