21st – 25th August 2022 – A team of experts from World Health Organization Headquarters, Regional Office and Country Office with the International Atomic Energy Agency have concluded a mission in Maldives with the end goal to integrate non-communicable diseases and prevention of common cancers to Primary Health Care, Control Cancer and introduce Nuclear Medicine Services within the country.
The Republic of Maldives has made remarkable socioeconomic progress during the past two decades and is now an upper middle-income country. Notable achievements have been made in the health sector, particularly the increase in life expectancy, improvement of infant, child and maternal health, control of communicable diseases including elimination of diseases such as malaria, measles and lymphatic filariasis, and high rates of immunization coverage.
Despite these triumphs, the country continues to face new challenges such as growing rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), accounting for more than 80% of total deaths, demand for better quality services, heavy reliance on expatriate health professionals, limited health access for the increasing migrant population and vulnerability to the impact of climate change.
With the high prevalence of Cancer in the country, the Government of Maldives is currently working to establish a specialized hospital to provide comprehensive care for cancer patients. To address and overcome these hurdles, WHO supported Ministry of Health with a team of local and international experts to review the NCD interventions in health services focusing on primary health care, review the status of cancer prevention, diagnosis, management and monitoring, develop a package of NCD services, conceptualize and plan a service delivery model for integration, develop a monitoring and evaluation system for PHC, and lastly, to propose a strategic plan for addressing cancer prevention, early diagnosis, management, palliative care, and cancer registries.
To plan the mission, a series of meetings were held with the WHO South East Asia technical unit about these needs, and the decision was made to conduct a situation assessment of current cancer care services (prevention, treatment, and diagnostic services) in the country. During their five-day mission, the team of seven experts met with multiple partners and stakeholders including the relevant departments of Ministry of Health, teams from government and private hospitals, NGOs, UN agencies and the Maldives National Defense Force. The team also had a field visit to an atoll where they inspected and observed service delivery at Regional and Atoll Hospitals and island health care facilities.
Cancer was identified as a priority and a functioning cancer registry, and a national cancer programme are priorities. Planning for radiation safety and nuclear medicine should also start now. WHO and IAEA stands committed to support Maldives in advancing these areas.
To conclude the weeklong events, the team prepared and presented their findings and recommendations to WHO Representative Dr Nazneen Anwar, Minister of Health His Excellency Ahmed Naseem and senior officials from the Ministry of Health. The next steps include working with Ministry of Health, key institutions, and contributors to develop a detailed plan for Nuclear medicine services (radiation safety standards and guidelines) and a National Cancer Control Plan.
“This is the first step WHO has taken to integrate NCDs to primary health care in Maldives. This first step itself will be immensely beneficial to the country,” said Dr Nazneen Anwar, WHO Representative, “In addition, WHO is pleased to extend support to the Government to control Cancer and introduce Nuclear medicine services; another first for the country.”
WHO is committed to utilize technical resources and high-level expertise to address and resolve public health burdens faced by Members States, and to lead global efforts in expanding Universal Health Coverage.