National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) has revealed people suffering from mental illnesses and people without guardians will be provided with financial assistance from next year onwards.
Speaking at the Parliamentary Committee on Social Affairs, CEO of NSPA Ismail Azzam Wajeeh stated the Social Protection Act requires financial protection to be given to individuals registered under 11 areas. However, he mentioned so far financial assistance is given to individuals from a few areas.
The allowances currently disbursed by NSPA include Single Parent Allowance, Foster Parent Allowance, Food Subsidy, Disability Allowance and Medical Welfare. The allowances are given when financially struggling families or individuals register at NSPA.
Azzam stated two new programmes will be launched next year under the Social Protection Act. In this regard, he noted efforts are underway to introduce allowances to people suffering from mental illnesses and people without guardians, adding the relevant regulations have now been formulated. He revealed efforts are ongoing to share the regulation with relevant authorities.
It is a pledge of the administration to establish mental health treatments in Maldives. As part of efforts, the government has established a mental health centre in Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH).
Furthermore, the CEO highlighted easier arrangements have been made to apply for financial assistance form NSPA. In this regard, Azzam expressed a special form have been designed to ease the submission of the applications, rather than sending letters to apply for finances. Moreover, he revealed efforts are underway to provide financial assistance to all individuals in the 11 areas mentioned in Social Protection Act.