New Thalassemia Centre handed over to Health Ministry

The new Thalassemia Centre in Hulhumale' has been completed and officially handed over to the Ministry of Health, according to Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).

The facility, located on a floor of the Orange Hiyaa building in Hulhumale' Phase one, was handed over in conjunction with this year’s World Thalassemia Day.

MNDF said that all equipment for the centre has been transferred to the new location.

One floor of the Orange Hiyaa building, previously used as a Covid-19 facility, has now been converted to accommodate the Thalassemia Centre.

During last year’s Thalassemia Day celebration, then Health Minister Dr Abdulla Khaleel said that the previous blood services facility faced severe space constraints and was in a state of disrepair, making it unsuitable for the care of thalassemia patients.

A new location was therefore identified and allocated.

However, the private contractor initially tasked with the conversion of the building had completed less than half of the required work before the contract expired. The project was subsequently reassigned to the MNDF, who have since completed the work.