First Lady reaffirms commitment to addressing Non-Communicable Diseases

First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed expressed her commitment to leveraging her role as the Maldives’ First Lady to address rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Maldives. She made these remarks during her intervention at the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Committee Meeting on Wednesday, held as part of the 11th Edition of the Merck Foundation Africa Asia Luminary Annual Conference.

Noting that NCDs contribute to alarmingly high mortality rates in the Maldives, the First Lady stressed that these diseases now present one of the country’s most critical health challenges that demand both enhanced healthcare capacity and community awareness. She highlighted that the Maldives currently faces a shortage of specialists, especially in fields such as oncology.

Building on this, First Lady Madam Sajidha underscored the need for external support to bridge these gaps. She also addressed challenges in reproductive health, particularly the social and emotional difficulties Maldivian couples face surrounding infertility.

Commending the Merck Foundation’s campaigns as a source of inspiration, the First Lady praised the unity and shared learning among First Ladies at the conference, expressing her eagerness to apply the insights gained to strengthen the Maldives’ healthcare sector.