The health centre in Inguraidhoo, Raa Atoll, has been temporarily transferred to a new building, as part of the project to upgrade the health centre.
Residents of Inguraidhoo as well as nearby Fainu, Kinolhas, and Innamaadhoo heavily rely on the health services provided by the Inguraidhoo Health Centre. However, the centre began facing challenges after the number of patients began increasing, despite becoming a 24hr health service provider, as it was still operating in the same building built by the government in 2004.
Therefore, the Ministry of Health contracted Duplex Private Limited in April to construct a new two-storey building on the land plot that houses the Inguradhoo Health centre to address the space constraints. Duplex is tasked with completing the project within 540 days at a cost of USD5 million.
Senior Administrative Officer Abdulla Hussain said the health centre will provide additional services after the completion of the project, as the new building will have X-ray services and dialysis services. He also expressed hope that the centre will be able to hire more employees to provide services with the new building.
Additionally, Hussain expressed his desire to enhance the health centre, aiming to expand its capabilities and provide most services, though certain procedures like CT scans and operations may still need to be sought elsewhere. The new building is expected to contribute to this goal by offering additional laboratory services, making healthcare more accessible to the residents and reducing the necessity for travel to seek such services.
The Inguraidhoo Health Centre has now been temporarily transferred to a rented building while Duplex prepares to begin construction of the new building. The rented building is more spacious than the previous one and has all existing services available with two doctors, and the health centre is preparing to introduce pediatric services soon. The health centre has two wards, three consultation rooms, a special unit for public health, a nurses' booth and an office. The laboratory also offers important tests including thyroid scans.