Human Rights Commission of Maldives (HRCM) has claimed that the special needs centers in Kaafu atoll Guraidhoo have been operating without psychiatrists for the past nine years.
A delegation of HRCM had paid a visit to inspect the centers in Guraidhoo earlier in March.
The team had shared its findings with the senior members of the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services. Meanwhile, HRCM had revealed some of its findings in a public statement, released last Thursday, 17th March 2022.
In its statement, HRCM noted that the commission advised the centers on hiring psychiatrists for patient evaluation and consultation, during their 2013 visit.
However, the management of the centers had not attended to the commission's suggestions despite an elapse of nearly eight years - revealed during the commission's 2021 visit.
On the other hand, a team of Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital's (IGMH) Mental Health Center visited the island sometime in 2021 for a mass patient check-up and evaluation.
HRCM had found that a total of 20 patients were consulted during the IGMH team's visit to Guraidhoo.
The commission had also requested from the Mental Health Center of IGMH to visit the island once every month for similar evaluation trips. However, the Mental Health Center had claimed it will be difficult to organize trips that frequently.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Gender had later confirmed its attempts to bring in foreign doctors to resolve the issue of lacking psychiatrists in the centers.
Other issues the HRCM team observed during their inspection visit include;
- lack of a proper organizational structure and policies in the management of special-needs centers
- Lack of CCTV cameras installed in psych-wards
- Lack of specific training of employees working in the centers
- Lack of healthy meal plans for patients
- Insufficient care workers
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services has assured the commission of fresh impetus to improve the derailed conditions of the special-needs centers.
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