First Lady Sajidha Mohamed on Sunday inaugurated a suite of medical upgrades at Kulhudhuffushi Regional Hospital, marking a pivotal milestone in the government’s strategic initiative to elevate the facility to a tertiary-level institution. The developments, spanning emergency medicine, renal care, and pandemic preparedness, represent a concentrated effort to decentralise specialised medical services and fortify the healthcare architecture of the northern atolls.
The first lady opened a modernised Emergency Room featuring six beds, a dedicated procedure room, and a staff lounge. Historically, emergency care was administered within an internal ward, creating logistical bottlenecks; the new configuration allows ambulances direct access to the unit, expediting treatment for critical patients. This enhancement is vital for a facility that treated 1,679 individuals in the first quarter of this year, following 6,591 patients in the previous year. A 13,500-square-foot emergency facility is also planned, with construction slated to commence shortly.
The expansion further includes a nine-bed Dialysis Centre equipped for intensive care, including an isolation bed and ICU integration. To alleviate the logistical burdens on patients, the government has introduced peritoneal dialysis, a method facilitating self-administration. This clinical advancement aligns with a national programme that has extended dialysis capabilities to ten islands over the past two years.
The proceedings concluded with the groundbreaking of an isolation facility financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Formalised through a 14 February agreement with Altec Maldives Private Limited, the multi-purpose structure will function as a convertible quarantine facility and an 800-capacity auditorium, serving as a dual-purpose asset for national health preparedness.