First Lady Sajidha Mohamed has underscored that prioritising the health and well-being of newborns serves as the very foundation of human health.
Speaking at the inauguration of the first-ever Neonatal Nurses Conference in the Maldives on Wednesday, the First Lady emphasised that the issue of infant health holds universal relevance, impacting every family, every individual, and shaping the trajectory of future generations.
Calling for collaborative action, the First Lady stressed the vital role of cooperation among participants and the exchange of ideas to forge constructive solutions. She acknowledged the field's formidable past challenges and tragic incidents, urging for accelerated progress in the present.
First Lady Sajidha highlighted the urgent need for enhanced resources, human capacity, and specialised skills.
"Space, materials and resources, human capacity and skills are needed. We need to embrace the world's advanced knowledge and specialised scientific technologies associated with the care of newborns to ensure the nation keeps pace with developed health systems globally,” she explained.
The First Lady expressed her hope that the conference would serve as a crucial platform to thoroughly discuss the existing challenges and resource development within the Maldives, ultimately reaching a consensus on viable solutions.
She called for working together for the health of newborns, with the expectation that new ideas and important discussions would lead to positive results.
Ultimately, First Lady Sajidha articulated a vision where these collective efforts culminate in the creation of a happy and prosperous society, built upon the bedrock of healthy beginnings.
Speaking at the two-day conference, Ibrahim Abdul Razzaq Haleem, CEO of the Male’ City Group of Hospitals (MCGH), stressed its critical role in bolstering healthcare services across the nation and urged all hospitals under the group to expand such vital provisions.
He provided a comprehensive overview of the current neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) capacity, detailing 18 beds at IGMH, 14 at Hulhumale’ Hospital, and 10 at Dharumavantha Hospital.
He noted the substantial progress made in improving the quality of care for critically ill infants, which has led to a marked increase in survival rates for vulnerable babies at birth.
Despite these advancements, Abdul Razzaq acknowledged a persistent challenge - a shortage of specialised doctors and, crucially, trained neonatal nurses.
"While improvements in care have boosted survival rates, the scarcity of trained neonatal nurses remains a significant hurdle,” he said.
To mitigate this, the MCGH is actively strengthening NICU services in regional hospitals and currently has a NICU nurse from the Shaviyani Atoll hospital undergoing training at Hulhumale’ Hospital, he revealed.
The conference itself, bringing together 40 nurses from across the Maldivian NICUs and regional hospitals, provides a vital platform for discussing international achievements and evidence-based innovations to further strengthen the healthcare system.
Tracing its roots back three decades with just five beds, neonatal specialised care in the Maldives has expanded significantly, dramatically reducing infant mortality rates. Annually, around 1,000 newborns in the country require critical NICU admission.
This inaugural conference, designed to share global best practices and research, is poised to further fortify the Maldives' healthcare system, ensuring a brighter future for its youngest citizens.