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First-ever island based chemotherapy service begins

16 December 2020, MVT 20:52
Lhaviyani Atoll Hospital, Naifaru, unveiled its chemotherapy services on Monday, a first for any regional health centre or hospital. PHOTO: MIHAARU
16 December 2020, MVT 20:52

Lhaviyani Atoll Hospital, on Monday, commenced chemotherapy services, a first for any health facility outside of the capital city or greater Male’ region.

The development to the Hospital, located in Naifaru island, was brought forth via the President’s Office as well as the cavity city’s Hulhumale Hospital. Incumbent President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih traces his family roots to Lhaviyani Atoll’s Hinnavaru Island.

This initiative was prompted by a pressing need raised by one of Naifaru’s residents, a 70-year-old patient requiring transfusions thrice weekly.

Following the emergence of the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent restrictions, the patient has been travelling back and forth between the two atolls, adding to the patients' discomfort and their suffering.

“To my knowledge, a number of regional hospitals have called [the relevant authorities] requesting [cancer treatment] services, given that it has become difficult to travel to Male’” explained Abdulla Jaufar, head of operations at Lhaviyani Atoll Hospital.

“Even so, these facilities are not prepared to begin offering such services”.

According to Jaufar, although Lhaviyani Hospital was not equipped or built to handle serving chemotherapy patients, the struggle demonstrated by one patient helped cement the decision.

Within what the facility’s chief describes as short period, Lhaviyani Hospital was fitted with the necessary resources for providing oncology services, including a dedicated ward with beds to ensure cancer patients stay comfortable throughout the treatment.

Naifaru is home to two cancer patients requiring monthly transfusions from Hulhumale Hospital. A further six patients are yet to begin treatment, with delays caused by various difficulties brought on by the pandemic.

Patients on the island have since expressed their relief, over the opening of the local oncology department.

The goal of offering these services in Naifaru, says Jaufar, is to expand the provision of treatment to residents of Noonu Atoll and Raa Atoll which lie respectively, 57.3 km and 67.5 km away from Lhaviyani Atoll or 150 km and 144 km away from Male’ City.

“These are outpatient treatments. But we’ve begun this service out of necessity because, at present, heading to Male’ is not easy” he asserted.

In Maldives, although numerous patients have been diagnosed with cancer across the archipelago, access to treatment is often dubbed “privilege” due to the significant disparity in the provision of such services to those in far lying islands or atolls.

Many have continually raised concerned voices over the issue of centralised health facilities; a majority of medical services are based in solely within capital districts.

In a bid to bridge this gap, the Solih administration earlier pledged to build a specialised oncology hospital in Laamu Atoll. The hospital, funded by Indian aid, was initially planned to be built in Hulhumale’ but was later shifted to the southern region. The hospital is scheduled for opening next year.

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