All residential islands will have laboratory facilities to run at least the most basic tests by the end of next year, says President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
President Muizzu, who is on a four-day tour of Sh. Atoll, made the remark during a visit to Noomara on Monday morning.
Addressing a rally in Noomara, President Muizzu announced plans to open a lab in the island.
He acknowledged the difficulties faced by residents of small islands such as Noomara, who are forced to travel to other islands to get even the most basic medical tests done.
He said that by the end of next year, there will not be a single residential island in the Maldives that lacks testing facilities.
“God willing, by the end of next year, there will not be a single island in the Maldives where testing facilities proportionate to the island and meeting Health Ministry standards aren’t available,” he said.
Establishing basic lab services in all islands is one of President Muizzu’s pledges. Former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih had also made a similar pledge, vowing to establish mobile laboratory services in all islands. The former administration had rolled out the project in 2019 in L. Atoll.