Solih administration's foreign policy has seen many achievements: VP Naseem

Vice President Faisal Naseem has revealed that the administration’s foreign policy has been and continues to be a success.

He said this while speaking at the function held at N.D. Abdulla Abdul Hakeem Ophthalmology Center to mark the ongoing skills and service enhancement work under the China-Maldives Ophthalmology Center Assistance and Cooperation Programme, on Saturday.

Taking the podium at the event, VP Naseem underscored the success of the foreign policy of the incumbent administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

He noted that it has been a major priority of the administration to enhance international acceptance of the foreign policy of Maldives.

Stressing that the Maldives was not in a promising position regarding foreign relations when President Solih took office on November 2018, VP Naseem highlighted that the administration has made exceptional progress in its engagements with the international community.

The vice president described the levels of achievements in such a short time as "unprecedented in recent memory."

Further, he stated that the centralization of healthcare to the congested capital Malé City by the previous administrations had posed multiple challenges.

With this, he shed light on the incumbent administration’s decentralization efforts and highlighted that the Solih administration has pledged to eliminate the need for travel to the capital city to seek medical assistance.

As such, VP Naseem noted that a lot of ambitious efforts are being put forth by the administration to realize this goal, by developing regional tertiary hospitals.

He went on to shed light on the administration’s efforts to provide education and training opportunities for healthcare professionals.

During his address the vice president also emphasized the assistance and cooperation provided by the government of China through the China-Maldives Ophthalmology Center Assistance and Cooperation Programme, expressing sincere gratitude to the government of China for its assistance and cooperation.

The vice president expressed confidence in strengthening the relationship between Maldives and China over the years.

In addition to this, VP Naseem stated that the administration plans to raise the salaries and allowances of healthcare professionals starting on May 1.

This was initially announced by President Solih during his fifth presidential address, delivered during the inaugural sitting of the People’s Majlis on February 6.

As such, the president revealed that the process of increasing the salaries of the healthcare sector workers, was underway this year.