President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has conferred the Highest Honour for Service in the Maldives’ Health Sector on Moosa Anwar, a veteran health professional from Meedhoo, Addu Atoll, in recognition of more than four decades of dedicated service to the Maldivian state.
The award was presented during the official Republic Day ceremony, where Anwar’s contributions to public health and his efforts to promote nationwide health awareness were formally acknowledged. President Muizzu presented the award to Anwar in recognition of his enduring commitment to strengthening the country’s healthcare system.
Anwar’s career began at the age of 16, when he joined the Regional Medical Centre operated by the Royal Air Force in Gan, Addu Atoll. At the time, the British maintained a presence in the region, and Anwar’s early exposure to clinical service laid the foundation for a lifelong vocation in public health.
In 1977, he relocated to Malé and assumed the role of practical nurse at the then Allied Health Service Centre. This period marked a turning point in his professional journey, as he became deeply involved in developing the nation’s healthcare workforce. His contributions included training nurses, community health workers, and family health workers, as well as modernising the instruction of midwives serving across the country.
His work in clinical training led to broader responsibilities within the Ministry of Health. Anwar played a key role in expanding hospital services throughout the country’s atolls, an initiative aimed at decentralising healthcare access. He was also closely involved in the transformation of Malé Central Hospital into the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH), now a cornerstone of the capital’s medical infrastructure.
In the later stages of his career, Anwar served at the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA), where he continued to support public health through regulatory oversight and institutional development.