Maldives secures stock of filariasis medication

The Maldivian government says that it has gathered stocks of medication needed to treat cases of filariasis, after dozens of cases of the mosquito-borne disease were recently detected among the country’s migrant population.

Cases of filariasis - a disease which was eradicated from Maldives in 2016 – was originally detected from Kulhudhuffushi City.

16 cases of filariasis were detected during a health screening camp targeting the city’s migrant population on December 14 – run by the Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital in collaboration with HPA and other health agencies.

Last weekend, the Health Ministry said that the Maldives lacks two types of medication needed to treat filariasis.

In a press briefing on Monday, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the principal secretary to the president on public policy, said that during a cabinet meeting on Sunday, the Health Ministry provided assurance the Maldives now has the medication needed to treat filariasis.

“In Sha Allah, people need not worry. The Health Ministry provided assurance yesterday that medicine has been arranged in collaboration with the WHO and other relevant agencies,” he said.

“Therefore, we are certain there will be enough medication.”

Maldives has confirmed 32 cases of filariasis – 25 in Kulhudhuffushi City – and seven in the greater Male’ area.

So far, the cases have been restricted to the country’s migrant population.

Also on Monday, Nazim said that foreign citizens who enter on work visa, dependent visa, resident visa, student visa, corporate visa, and marriage visa, will be required to get a medical checkup done upon arrival, and on a yearly basis.

Meanwhile, foreign citizens on the long-term visas who have not had their medical checkups done over the last one year, are required to get one done within the next six months.

It was also decided by the cabinet to shorten the 30-day window given to undergo medical checkup upon entrance to the Maldives to 15 days.