President revives hope for progress, among citizens during ongoing tour of Shaviyani, Raa atolls

President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih revives hopes for progress, among the citizens of Shaviyani and Raa atoll, as part of his tour, scheduled to conclude on Thursday evening.

As part of the First Couple’s ongoing three-day tour of the two atolls, the President most recently sat down with senior administrators of healthcare providers in Raa Atoll. Prior to this meeting, the president met with members of the Island Councils and the Women's Development Committees of Rasgetheem, Alifushi and Vaadhoo, Alifushi Island Police Station and Raa Atoll Council. The First Lady visited schools in Rasgetheem, Alifushi and Vaadhoo as well.

During the meeting with senior administrators of healthcare providers in Raa Atoll, discussions revolved around budgeting, human resources, and shortages in equipment and infrastructure, difficulties in maintaining existing healthcare infrastructure, lack of an ambulance as well as difficulties in collaborating with some healthcare institutions and issues in carrying out tasks at respective health centers.

President Solih shared his administration’s goal to promote decentralized healthcare to expand current the medical services provided to residents nationwide.

Following this he toured the island’s jetty and the harbor upgrade project site.

Meeting the members of island councils and WDCs of all three islands, the president urged councilors to provide full assistance for the administration's development projects planned and initiated.

Rasgetheem councilors expressed concerns over amendments to the harbor upgrade project, infrastructural shortages at the local school and health center, need for a football field, ice plant and ATM services, whereas the Alifushi councilors stressed on difficulties faced in home construction, delays in upgrading Alifushi Hospital and a request to establish a community center on the island, the WDC also raised concerns on difficulties faced due to the lack of office space.

Further, members of the Vaadhoo council stressed on issues such as coastal erosion, land constraints at the harbor and football field, alongside requesting an increase of police presence, whereas WDC members requested to increase allowances.

Raa Atoll Council members shed light on issues such as urban development, healthcare, ownership of some uninhabited islands in the region, waste management, a transportation network within the Atoll, difficulties faced in transferring Covid-19 patients between the atoll's islands, requirements at Ungoofaaru Island, including enabling Covid-19 PCR testing at Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital, expanding the harbor, road development and queries regarding the opening of the Islamic Centre on the island.

Meeting the Alifushi Police Station, President Solih stated that the administration's efforts to reform and improve the quality of the police force have led to the institution having regained public trust. He urged them not to make distinctions between people, as the police are the most essential body in enforcing laws. The president also discussed the government's plans to provide decentralized policing and the benefits the police service would receive as a result.

During the trip the First Couple also toured some historical sites of Rasgetheem, the development site for the new 300-person capacity mosque on Vaadhoo Island and inspected the progress of the water and sewerage project on the island.

During these meetings, the president assured that issues facing the communities will be solved through discussions with relevant authorities in reaching quick solutions.

During her visits to the islands’ schools, the First Lady gifted books to each school’s library on preventing bullying and sexual violence awareness, and met with the management as well as students. She encouraged teachers to prioritize inclusive education, foster skills and instill good character in students to ensure they strive to become successful, productive members of society.

The First Couple departed on the two-atoll tour at 11am on Tuesday. The three-day tour is of four islands of Shaviyani atoll; Funadhoo, Lhaimagu, Foakaidhoo and Maaungoodhoo as well as four islands of Raa atoll; Vaadhoo, Alifushi, Rasgetheem and Angolhitheem.

Some senior government officials, Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail and Managing Director of state utilities company FENAKA Corporation are joining the First Couple on the trip.

On Wednesday the team will be touching down in Vaadhoo and Alifushi. Further, the team will also be visiting Rasgetheem and Angolhitheem on Thursday. The First Couple is scheduled to conclude their trip and return on Thursday.

During the course of the trip, the president will officially inaugurate the Job Center established in Alifushi island of Raa atoll, by the Economic Ministry.