The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Country Director to the Maldives, Ritsu Nacken, has stated that Maldives has advanced in strengthening the health sector.
Speaking on Talk Maldives TV programme, aired on PSM News, the UNICEF Country Director said that the Maldives have a very good track record in making progress in health and education sector. However, the Country Manager Ritsu Nacken said that there are issues remaining related to family planning and reproductive health which Maldives could improve. In this regard, Ritsu Nacken said Maldives needs to increase awareness of young people towards reproductive health, expand family planning awareness and alleviate the gap between the recipients of such services and information. She said lack of availability and information of reproductive health and family planning is a major issue, faced by not only Maldives but many other countries as well.
"Maldives has made great achievements, married couples can have free contraceptives and they have good access to sexual reproductive health services. It has been really great achievement. However, that as I mentioned young people still access issues and also the quality of care, the truly user friendly services is still limited. Those are the challenges we have. In some of the remote atolls, I have been to Eydhafushi before; those atolls of course face some limitations too despite the government's efforts. The issue is really making sure every citizen has the same quality care in Maldives,” Nacken said.
The UNICEF Country Director said that she noted that most islands in the country have health related infrastructure, but there was a lack of use of the services. She said citizens need to be made more aware of the services available in the atolls. Nacken further said that Maldives is in the so called demographic dividend period, where there are a large number of young people. She said this is a great opportunity for the country to invest in the health of young people.
She also stated that UNICEF works closely with the Maldivian authorities, especially health and education ministries, in policy advocacy and will continue to assist the Maldives strive to provide better life and bring development to the nation.