Upon the invitation of Minister of Health Honorable Ahmed Naseem, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh visited the Republic of Maldives on an official trip. This is the Regional Director’s first visit back to Maldives since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interactions during the Regional Director’s visit to Maldives were centered on areas that are being technically supported by WHO including strengthening of the health system to achieve the health-related Sustainable Development Goals and integrating Non-Communicable Diseases into Primary Health Care.
During the visit, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Maldives His Excellency Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. His Excellency President commended the unparalleled support provided by WHO during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted the collaborative efforts between Maldives and World Health Organization which led to eradication of many communicable diseases from the Maldives throughout the last six decades. His Excellency also underscored issues where increased collaboration is required, such as the country’s need for technical capacity building.
Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh praised the Government for its efforts to develop the health sector, and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She highlighted the Maldives progress in balancing its focus on health and managing its economy after the pandemic. The Regional Director assured His Excellency the President of continued partnership, leadership, and technical guidance from WHO to the Maldives in all areas relating to Public Health.
Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh met and deliberated with Honorable Ahmed Naseem and senior officials representing Ministry of Health throughout the duration of her visit. Led by Honorable Minister Ahmed Naseem, the Ministry of Health officials briefed the Regional Director on the ongoing work, challenges and identified areas where support and collaboration from WHO would be opportune. Honorable Ahmed Naseem congratulated Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh on her remarkable leadership and commended her on being the first female to assume the role of WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia; an inspiration for all women working in Public Health across the region.
Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh paid a courtesy call on Minister of Foreign Affairs and the President of the 76th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Honorable Abdulla Shahid. Honorable Minister thanked the Regional Director for her outstanding leadership and efforts to advance regional health, accelerate immunization and promote integrated health services. He also expressed appreciation to WHO for prioritizing the needs of small states, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The health sector of the Maldives is currently facing significant challenges because of changing epidemiology, demographics, and lifestyles, including the emergence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). To achieve sustainable improvements in the outcomes of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), the Ministry of Health with WHO are working towards reorienting the health systems to ensure access to high-quality, affordable, comprehensive primary health care (PHC) in an efficient and equitable manner. Hence, during one of the side events of the three-day programme, Honorable Health Minister, and the WHO Regional Director jointly soft-launched Maldives’ first ‘Primary Health Care Demonstration Site’ in Faafu Atoll. The project will conduct population-level screening for select noncommunicable diseases, strengthen healthy lifestyle counselling; and identify and refer common cancers and select mental health conditions; through an integrated people centered service delivery approach.
“A core pillar of the Region’s ‘build back better’ vision is reorienting health systems towards quality, accessible, affordable and comprehensive primary health care (PHC), the most efficient and equitable way to achieve universal health coverage, which since 2014, has been a Flagship Priority.” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, “For that, the Faafu Atoll project will show how best to reorient health systems for NCD services specifically, providing a working model not just for Maldives, but for the Region and world.”
To conclude her official visit, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh extended her sincere gratitude to the Honorable Minister of Health and his team, and wished the Government of Maldives success in its onward journey towards health and well-being for all people, at all ages, across the country. With the spirit of collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to science, WHO looks forward to joint and multisectoral partnership with the Government of Maldives to achieve and advance Health for everyone, everywhere