In a significant stride to enhance healthcare services in the northernmost Haa Alifu Atoll, the government has officially opened a new extension to the Thuraakunu Health Centre and inaugurated laboratory services at the Marandhoo Health Centre.
The dual initiatives mark a continued push to decentralise medical care and reduce the need for island residents to travel to the capital for basic services.
The new addition to the Thuraakunu Health Centre was inaugurated in a special ceremony attended by the Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed. The event was also graced by officials from both ministries, the Thuraakunu Council, and the health centre itself.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Nazim emphasised the government's commitment to prioritising islands with smaller populations by facilitating the work of the staff and improving the service provided to the people.
"The government is giving priority to small populated islands and is expanding healthcare like other services. The results are being seen,” he said.
The newly opened extension features an office section, a public health room, a storeroom, and a meeting room, which are expected to significantly improve operational efficiency and patient care. The existing centre, which operates for eight hours daily, includes a six-bed ward and laboratory services.
Following the inauguration, Minister Nazim met with the health centre's senior management to discuss and address existing challenges.
In a parallel development, the government has launched a new laboratory service at the Marandhoo Health Centre. This installation is the 14th laboratory established under the government's broader project to expand diagnostic services across the atolls.
Minister Nazim, who also officiated the launch in Marandhoo, highlighted the immediate practical benefits for the community. Currently, Maarandhoo residents have to travel to neighbouring Dhidhdhoo for even basic diagnostic testing. However, the laboratory service will now allow residents to undergo necessary tests on their own island.
The Marandhoo Health Centre, which currently operates for 16 hours a day and has a three-bed ward, is also slated for a new building as part of ongoing development plans.
These inaugurations are a key part of the government's ambitious goal to establish laboratory services in 76 islands within the year.