A comprehensive study to assess the current health situation across the Maldives is slated to commence early next year, the Minister of Health, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim announced Wednesday.
The announcement was made during the signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), formalising the collaboration on this crucial initiative.
The upcoming assessment, known as the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), will be conducted jointly by the Ministry of Health and the UNICEF Maldives Country Office. Minister Nazim signed the MoU on behalf of the Maldives government, while Dr Edward Addai, UNICEF's Special Representative, signed for the UN organisation.
Speaking during the ceremony, Minister Nazim emphasised the pivotal role of accurate statistics in economic development and policy formulation.
"This new study will be instrumental in shaping our health sector policies, identifying crucial areas for improvement, and ultimately, in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals," he said.
He further explained that the MICS is an internationally recognised study designed to collect data on population and health indicators, offering insights into the primary health status of the population and the effectiveness of existing health services. This methodology is being implemented in numerous countries with UNICEF's support.
"The study will begin early next year with the aim of understanding our current health landscape and gathering vital information for long-term health plans and policies," he added.
Minister Nazim also highlighted that the last comprehensive health situation study in the Maldives was conducted in 2017, and the absence of subsequent assessments has created challenges in pinpointing necessary improvements within the health sector.
The survey will gather extensive data on various aspects, including population health, reproductive health, child development, and common dietary practices. The nationwide study will encompass all Atolls, with approximately 6,000 households expected to be visited for data collection.