Maldives says aim to eliminate rubella this year
Naseem said that in the last twenty years, the system of robust primary health care that was previously described has weakened.
By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Health minister Ahmed Naseem said on Friday that the Maldives is aiming to eliminate rubella this year.
The minister spoke about the goals that the Maldives wants to achieve in the health sector, in his address on the occasion of World Health Day.
Noting that the Maldives is currently one of the fastest implementers of policies on the theme 'Health for All' for this year's World Health Day, Naseem said that the country is moving ahead with a tertiary target by dividing the entire country into regions. Naseem said that the Maldives has achieved every achievement that the world has achieved in the health sector. To give strength to this, he pointed out:
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Worked with all relevant UN agencies
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Was involved in issues reserved for children and women
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Some major diseases were eradicated and the safety of vaccines was ensured
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Vaccine coverage for malaria, measles, polio and rubella
While the spread of deadly diseases has come to an end in the country, Naseem says there are still issues that need to be addressed. He said the government has set a target:
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This year, the Maldives will eliminate rubella
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Maldives to eliminate TB by 2025
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Targeting areas once in a while in a phased manner to wipe out leprosy as well
'Primary healthcare system weak'
Naseem said that in the last 20 years, the system of robust primary healthcare that was previously in place has weakened.
"Instead of carefully managing one's health, every individual now prefers to see what kind of services are provided by a visible clinic or a health centre or a hospital. But this alone can't guarantee your health completely," Naseem said.
He said people should be careful about how to maintain habits to prevent long-term complications and people should rely on preventive care over "curative care". He believes it's one of the most important steps that can be taken to reach the "healthy" society standard of the government.
"My hope is to have a comprehensive system with priority for primary health care and public health in the near future. What the health sector needs to do to achieve this goal is now being introduced and systematicized”, Naseem said.
