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New COVID-19 facility in Thinadhoo after Villingili incident

01 September 2020, MVT 14:48
Health Professionals at the Dr Abdul Samad Memorial Hospital conducting COVID-19 diagnostic tests. PHOTO: DR ABDUL SAMAD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
01 September 2020, MVT 14:48

Amid the controversy of an elderly patient being barred from the COVID-19 management facility on Villingili, Gaafu Alif Atoll, the government has decided to establish a facility on Thinadhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll instead.

The parliamentary representative for Thinadhoo South constituency, MP Abdulla Saneef, announced the news on his Twitter and conveyed gratitude to the government on behalf of Thinadhoo's residents.

However, the government is yet to disclose any details regarding the new facility.

The news of this development comes after a group of people on Villingili, Gaafu Alif Atoll, held a protest and obstructed authorities from bringing an elderly man, aged 68, who tested positive for COVID-19 from Thinadhoo, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, onto Villingili to be hospitalised at the island's COVID-19 management facility, this Monday.

As a result, authorities later had to charter a seaplane flight to bring the patient to capital Male'. He is currently being treated at the Hulhumale' Medical Facility.

Reportedly the main reason behind the protest was fear of COVID-19 spreading in Villingili, while some allege the protestors were fuelled by political motives.

These claims were denied by parliamentary representative for Villingili MP Saud Hussain, who claimed that the COVID-19 management facility on Villingili was not equipped with the required resources to provide treatment for patients, including critical care.

However, Saud's allegations were refuted by the manager of Villingili's hospital, Shareef Ahmed, who asserted that the facility was fully equipped for COVID-19 treatment. He said that the Villingili incident was fuelled by political motives.

Meanwhile, the incident at Villingili has sparked outrage and harsh criticism from the public at the actions of the protestors, with the Health Emergency Operations Centre (HEOC) also calling for everyone to set aside misguided prejudices and discrimination against people that test positive for the coronavirus.

Following the detection of the first isolated case of COVID-19 in Maldives last March, the government has worked to establish COVID-19 management facilities in all regions of the country. In addition to the 23-bed centre in Villingili, the government has opened facilities in Shaviyani Atoll's Funadhoo, Baa Atoll's Eydhafushi, Laamu Atoll's Gan and Addu City, with the first COVID-19 specialised facility unveiled in the capital's reclaimed suburb of Hulhumale'.

HPA has stated that all the facilities, which are currently in operation, are fully equipped and capable of providing treatment for COVID-19 patients.

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