Government on Thursday officially launched dialysis service in Ihavandhoo, Haa Alifu Atoll to deliver on President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s pledge to introduce the service to the island before the beginning of Ramadan.
Dialysis service at the Ihavandhoo Amina Dhiyo Health Center was officially launched during a ceremony by the visiting First Lady Saajidhaa Mohamed.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Health, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim assured the full support of the government in the development of Ihavandhoo.
In addition to Ihavandhoo, Minister Nazim announced that efforts are now underway to introduce dialysis services in nine other islands this year.
"By God's will, the President will end his five-year term after delivering his pledges in the health sector,” he said.
The Minister said that along with the efforts to expand new services, the government is making the necessary changes to further strengthen the health system to ensure sustainability, pointing out the initiative for affordable prescription medicines through the universal health insurance scheme, Aasandha.
Speaking during the ceremony, Ihavandhoo’s representative in Parliament, Ahmed Naseer successive governments had woefully neglected the shortages in the island’s health sector.
However, the launch of dialysis services shows the government’s commitment to address concerns of Ihavandhoo, he added.
The Aminadhiyo Health Center in Ihavandhoo is a Level four health center that provides 24-hour services. The center has commenced dialysis services with a three-bed unit, where one has been reserved for patient isolation.
There are nine patients currently on dialysis in Ihavandhoo. Six of these are receiving treatment from the capital Male’ while the remaining three rely on the provincial capital Dhidhdhoo or Kulhudhuffushi city for this service.