No births in Vaavu atoll in 12 years

Vaavu Atoll Hospital in Felidhoo has said today that there has been no births in the atoll in the past twelve years.

Manager of the Vaavu Atoll Hospital Ahmed Nasrullah told Mihaaru News that there had been births at the hospital when it was first upgraded to a hospital from a health centre during the administration of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.

Later, during former President Mohamed Nasheed's administration, the hospital had faced issues with its back-up generator and had temporarily halted birth care services. Since then, people from all five inhabited islands of the atoll have chosen to travel to capital Male' City for births.

As per the Vital Statistics report 2024 published by the National Bureau of Statistics, no births were recorded in Vaavu atoll in 2021.

The statistics indicate that the second lowest birth rate was recorded in Kaafu Atoll Hospital, which stands at a total of two births.

That year, the highest number of births were recorded in Haa Dhaalu atoll, at 514 births. The second highest was in Raa atoll with 395 births.

In 2021, 3,192 births were recorded in Male' and 2,725 across the atolls.

Vaavu Atoll Hospital's manager Nasrullah said that in 2020 and 2021, due to the Covid pandemic, most pregnant mothers from Vaavu atoll had travelled to Meemu and Faafu atoll for giving birth. However, the actual number of births in those years are not known. Nasrullah said that other than during the pandemic, the people from the atoll prefer to travel to Male' to consult with specialists and birth care services.

He, however, highlighted that other than delivery, other pregnancy related services are still provided at the hospital. Ultrasound scan services are available, and an gynaecologist also consults at the hospital. The hospital also offers the services of a paediatrician and internal medicine specialist.

Nasrullah said that that they do not carry out deliveries at the hospital to avoid any issues that may arise due to the lack of an NICU and operation theater at the hospital. However, the hospital is now preparing to expand its services to include these.

"When we got ready for the work, the backup generator was broken. Looking at estimates, MVR 2 million is needed just for electricity upgrades. We can start the remaining services after first dealing with this. But we are working on it," Nasrullah said.

Vaavu atoll has the lowest population amongst atolls in Maldives, with only 2,688 people residing there at present.