President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih on Monday appealed to all able healthcare professionals to contribute to relief efforts amid the unprecedented circumstances presented by the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
"Maldives faces a great need for health care providers due to COVID-19", stated the president during a nationally broadcasted address, highlighting that there were several retired health care professionals temporarily away from their duties. He urged them to return to service, also extending the appeal to the private healthcare industry.
In his address, President Solih expressed confidence in the knowledge and capacity of healthcare workers in Maldives, while acknowledging the shortage of such professionals. He called upon all citizens to adhere to instructions issued by health care professionals.
Additionally, the president expressed gratitude towards Maldives Police Service and Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) officers, as well officials of Health Protection Agency (HPA), National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and Maldivian Red Crescent (MRC).
Maldives has recorded a significant increase in COVID-19 cases since its first confirmed case within the capital city of Male' on April 15, involving a local woman that sought assistance from a flu clinic in Malé after developing symptoms.
Presently, Maldives records 541 confirmed, 522 active cases of COVID-19 and a total of 18 recoveries. The country recorded its first virus death, of an 83-year-old local female, on April 29.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic. The new strain of novel coronavirus has infected over 3.59 million people and claimed over 249,000 lives around the world. However, out of those infected, more than 1.16 million people have recovered.
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