As COVID-19 wreaks its way across the globe, Maldives' own battle against the virus is strengthened by the hard work, resolve and dedication shown by those working round the clock on the very frontlines. From the numerous and varied range of health-workers testing and caring for the sick, those attending to waste, people suiting up for regular cleaning and disinfecting areas, those bagging and delivering groceries and other supplies, those risking health to donate blood and those that collect, volunteers collecting and distributing charity to those in need, Emergency Response Units and those providing Psychosocial Support, TAG team experts strategizing and dealing with difficult decisions, those working at ports to load and unload products to all islands, to the officers at Maldives Police Service and Maldives National Defence Force for their protection as well as others. As we think of the many faces that we will never know, there are of course the familiar faces reassuring us day after day from the National Emergency Operation Center. There are many to thank, and many to remember.
Maldives Police, suited up for protection, facilitate the transport of people being repatriated from Trivandrum, India to the various quarantine centres located across the archipelago. They are required to stay 14-days before they will be allowed to return to their island of residence. PHOTO: POLICE MEDIA
Assistant Commissioner of Police Naveen Ismail is a weekly guest, sometimes seen more often, at the daily press briefings held at NEOC. He has also received much praise for his reassuring manner, as he updates people on crime statistics as well as hears out concerns raised by journalists. PHOTO: POLICE / NEOC
A collaborative effort led by Male' City Mayor Shifa Mohamed, utilizing personnel from Housing Ministry, MNDF and the Council, to clean and disinfect the streets of Male'. The event took place prior to the first incidence of a person within the city's own community confirming positive for COVID-19. PHOTO: AHMED AWSHAN ILYAS / MIHAARU
Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC) staff and volunteers working with health care workers to mitigate the spread of COVID19 in Maldives. The NGO confirmed having provided psychosocial support to 916 individuals, as part of its response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Secretary-General Fathimath Himya revealed that their call centre was receiving an average of between 60 and 100 per day. PHOTO: MALDIVIAN RED CRESCENT
Technical Advisory Group (TAG)'s Dr Nazla Mustafa is another familiar face to the press and the public, making regular appears at the NEOC- hosted daily briefings. On April 21, she made the grim announcement that the team believed community spread had begun three weeks prior. PHOTO: NISHAN ALI / MIHAARU
A cashier at a local supermarket in Male', processes the overwhelming amount of orders sent through by a portion of the city's over 100,000 residents, on a daily basis, in addition to answering the numerous complaints and complications that inevitably arise with the sudden change in operation. PHOTO: AHMED AWSHAN ILYAS / MIHAARU
A worker, clad in gloves and a mask, offloads cases of goods meant to circulate amongst residents of Maldives. Dozens like him work tirelessly in the unforgiving April sun to ensure that other frontline workers, ordinary residents, across the archipelago receive the supplies they need. PHOTO: AHMED AWSHAN ILYAS / MIHAARU
Chucking supplies out of windows - a go-down worker hands down a case of product for delivery. Dozens like him work tirelessly in the unforgiving April sun to ensure that other frontline workers, ordinary residents, across the archipelago receive the supplies they need. PHOTO: AHMED AWSHAN ILYAS / MIHAARU
MNDF aids in the delivery of essential goods purchased from the State Trading Organization (STO) to residents in Male City. Delivery has become the most dangerous of gigs in this time, with a number of personnel involved in the process, mostly expatriate workers living in difficult and congested conditions, testing positive post-lockdown. PHOTO: AHMED AWSHAN ILYAS / MIHAARU
A worker, clad in gloves and a mask, handles deliveries of goods meant to circulate amongst residents of Maldives. Dozens like him work tirelessly in the unforgiving April sun to ensure that other frontline workers, ordinary residents, across the archipelago receive the supplies they need. PHOTO: AHMED AWSHAN ILYAS / MIHAARU