Maldives targets to eradicate Rubella this year, TB by 2025

Health Minister Ahmed Naseem, on Friday, announced the Maldivian government’s target to eradicate Rubella within the country by the end of this year, Tuberculosis (TB) by 2025 and later the complete eradication of Leprosy region by region through phases.

The goal was announced by the Minister in his address to the public on the occasion of World Health Day.

This year’s World Health Day theme is ‘Health for All’. Minister Naseem underscored that Maldives was among the countries formulating the best policies surrounding this year’s theme. On this note, he pointed out the hospital development projects underway at HDh. Kulhudhuffushi, R. Ungoofaru, L. Gan, GDh. Thinadhoo and Addu City.

“Although not visible to Male’, the scene across other regions is respectively seeing color. For this, I especially thank President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and the relevant government authorities,” he said

Speaking further, Minister Naseem said the past 75 years saw an end to major and critical diseases that existed before.

“Diseases such as Small Pox, Leprosy, Filaria and Malaria were huge threats to humanity. We have seen how this threat did and did not impact the Maldives. Overcoming this situation was the success of the past 75 years,” he said.

Stressing on this feat, he said that the government’s aim is to eradicate Rubella from Maldives by the end of this year, TB by 2025 and after that, the complete eradication of Leprosy region by region through phases.

Noting the threat which was COVID-19 – he said the pandemic has been controlled at present.

“The message Maldivians portrayed to the world during the COVID-19 pandemic has been very clear. We, by the will of God, now stand high by showing the world the successes that could be achieved by rallying behind a leader who does things with patience, intelligence, hope and discussion,” he said.

In his address, Minister Naseem also expressed dismay over the weakened primary health care system efficiently practiced in the Maldives in the past 20 years.

“My hope is the establishment of a comprehensive system in the near future that also prioritizes primary health care and public health. To reach this goal, introductions are being made to the health sector to perfect the system,” he said.