Social disparities in health in the Maldives: An assessment and implications
"Today, poverty in Maldives is
determined largely by geography and the imbalance in access to services, with remote
islands far from Malé being particularly deprived. The MDG target on poverty (eradicate extreme
poverty and hunger) had been achieved at the national
level. It is clear that rapid economic growth hides wide and increasing income disparities across areas within the
country, representing an increasing cause for serious concern. Indeed, income poverty in
Maldives has strong geographical and rural dimensions. There is a high
incidence of transient income poverty, with individuals
moving in and out of poverty status, rather than moving permanently out of poverty.
The major inequities in the health
system in the Maldives relate to disparities
between Malé and the atolls and remoter islands, and between households at different
levels of SES and education" read more
One-fifth of the island population cannot always obtain medicines when required – not primarily because of a lack of drugs but because there is no-one to prescribe them read more
Service inequalities plague thalassaemia sufferers
One-fifth of the island population cannot always obtain medicines when required – not primarily because of a lack of drugs but because there is no-one to prescribe them read more
Service inequalities plague thalassaemia sufferers
The pair visit the centre every two weeks, despite the costly and
exhausting four-hour journey from their home island of Thodoo in Alif
Alif Atoll.
“It is very tiring and every trip nearly cost nearly Rf3000 as
travelling and accommodation prices. We don’t have any other choice,”
Aisthath noted.
“On the islands, sometimes blood and medicines such as Desferal (a
drug used to moderate iron in the blood of transfused patients) is not
available while vital medical treatments charge money. But once we came
[to the NTC]almost everything is free. Blood is guaranteed. All services
and medicines are available,” she further explained.
The
inequalities in the services available to the thalassamia patients in
Male’ and on other islands was noted as a key problem in the
statement released by Maldivian Thalassaemia Society (MTS) on the
occasion of World Thalassaemia Day, marked on May 8 read more
“It is very tiring and every trip nearly cost nearly Rf3000 as travelling and accommodation prices. We don’t have any other choice,” Aisthath noted.
“On the islands, sometimes blood and medicines such as Desferal (a drug used to moderate iron in the blood of transfused patients) is not available while vital medical treatments charge money. But once we came [to the NTC]almost everything is free. Blood is guaranteed. All services and medicines are available,” she further explained.
The inequalities in the services available to the thalassamia patients in Male’ and on other islands was noted as a key problem in the statement released by Maldivian Thalassaemia Society (MTS) on the occasion of World Thalassaemia Day, marked on May 8 read more
Overcrowding leading to substance abuse and threat of HIV/AIDS epidemic
"Substance misuse problem in the Maldives is not only a significant threat in itself, but also makes the country vulnerable to an HIV/AIDS epidemic" UNICEF
"Substance misuse is having a clear and rapid impact on children and
families in the Maldives. Male’, especially, is one of the most densely
populated urban areas in the world. It experiences many of the complex
effects of rapid urbanization, such as overcrowded family homes – one of
the key antecedents to substance misuse among young people. The high
percentage of unemployment amongst youth and lack of recreational
opportunities are also contributing factors to substance misuse in the
Maldives. Heroin is the preferred drug for the vast majority of addicts,
and injection is rapidly becoming the preferred means of intake.
Average age of first use is 12 years old, with children as young as nine
identified as misusing drugs.
The growing substance misuse problem in the Maldives is not only a
significant threat in itself, but also makes the country vulnerable to
an HIV/AIDS epidemic – particularly given the recent increase in
injecting drug use."
IGMH transfuses HIV positive blood to patient
Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) has transfused HIV positive blood to a patient due to a technical error in the laboratory, the hospital and Ministry of Health and Gender revealed last night.
According to the
hospital, the incident took place on February 3, with discovery of the
error not made until February 19. The failure to reveal the incident
earlier was, according to IGMH, due to a delay in receiving an internal
report on the case. read more
Fuvahmulah Hospital denies negligence in stillbirth and soldier’s death
Fuvahmulah Atoll Hospital has denied allegations of negligence in a series of medical incidents including a case of stillbirth and the recent death of a soldier on the island.
The hospital’s statement came in response to comments by Fuvahmulah
Atoll Councilor Hussain Saeed, in which he blamed the hospital’s
management and Health Minister Dr Mariyam Shakeela for “worsening
conditions” at the hospital.
On May 31, a gynecologist at Fuvahmulah Atoll Hospital suspended a caesarean on a pregnant woman halfway through the surgery read more
Woman gives birth on a boat while waiting for emergency assistance
A woman has given birth on a boat traveling from Naifaru to Malé
early this morning, after the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF)
were unable to provide immediate emergency assistance.
The MNDF have confirmed that they were contacted by the boat at
around 3am while it was located near Gaafaru, on the northern side on
Malé atoll.
“Our vessel was engaged in another operation – we have five or six to
handle every day,” explained Deputy Spokesman Captain Ali Ihusaan. “We
attempted to guide the boat into Gaafaru but the captain said the
channel was too narrow.”read more