Male, Maldives (CU)_ The Maldives government has delivered ambulances to 20 additional islands that are in need of the service. This is part of the country’s attempts to enhance the healthcare system throughout its group of islands. Accordingly, in June 2021, the Ministry of Health reached an agreement with the Ministry of Finance and the State Trading Organization (STO), where both parties agreed to bring 96 ambulances to be deployed to distant atolls.
The MoU focuses on the goal of enhancing the healthcare system of the islands and resolving the primary concerns of the island’s population. It was confirmed by the ministry that the ambulances have been delivered to 20 more islands, including Finey island of Haa Dhaal atoll, Kurinbi island of Haa Dhaal atoll, Neykurendhoo island of Haa Dhaal atoll, Feydhoo island of Shaviyani atoll, Feevah island of Shaviyani atoll, Maakurathu island of Raa atoll, Angolhitheem island of Raa atoll, Innamaadhoo island of Raa atoll, Velidhoo island of Noonu atoll, Maalhendhoo island of Noonu atoll, Dhiffushi island of Kaafu atoll, Guraidhoo island of Kaafu atoll, Gaafaru island of Kaafu atoll, Rasdhoo island of Alif Alif atoll, Dhigurah island of Alif Dhaal atoll, Vilufushi island of Thaa atoll, Kandholhudhoo island of Gaaf Alif atoll, Nadella island of Gaaf Dhaal atoll, Fuvahmulah City, Addu City and the capital city.
As a result, this time, the ambulances were delivered to Addu Equatorial Hospital and Malé City’s Emergency Medical Service. The first cargo consisting of twenty ambulances arrived in the Maldives in October 2021. This was followed by the arrival of another cargo of twenty ambulances in December. As part of the MoU, the third shipment of ambulances was delivered in February 2022, followed by the fourth shipment on March 19, each comprising 21 units as stipulated in the MoU with the health ministry.
STO intends to transfer these units to the relevant islands at the earliest in order to boost the healthcare systems of these distant islands. This comes following the announcement of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih that the administration is trying to relocate the remaining ambulances to distant atolls by the end of March. He announced this at his 2022 presidential speech.
