The Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has urged major countries to assist vulnerable countries in overcoming climate-related health challenges. The Minister made the call while addressing the 156th Executive Board meeting of the World Health Organization (WHO), in Geneva, Switzerland.
Speaking at the meeting, the Minister highlighted the Maldives’ key priorities in the health sector. He reaffirmed the Maldives’ commitment to providing health services equally and without discrimination under the slogan of ‘Health for All’. He noted ongoing efforts to strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) to provide services to the people in an accessible manner.
The Health Minister said that future hospitals would be ‘Green Smart Hospitals’ that are environmentally friendly and equipped with modern facilities to mitigate environmental risks and strengthen health services.
The Minister noted that climate change causes excessive rainfall and flooding, which leads to an increase in disease outbreaks. Despite progress in the country’s health system, this poses additional challenges in the delivery of services through the health system, he noted. For these reasons, he stressed the need for member States of WHO to provide assistance to vulnerable countries to overcome such issues.
In addition, the Minister highlighted the recent ban on electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in the Maldives, implemented to protect youth from smoking and reduce the side effects of non-communicable diseases and other diseases.
The Minister expressed gratitude to the WHO’s Secretary General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and officials of the organisation for their continued assistance and cooperation in addressing health challenges, including climate-related health issues and health emergencies.