New filters installed at MBS after protests over filter issues escalated

Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has stated that new filters have been obtained and are now being used, after protests escalated regarding the issue of having to discard blood from donors due to issues with filters at the Maldives Blood Service.

Responding to a question by RaajjeMV at a press conference held at the President's Office to provide information about the work of the Health Ministry on Thursday, Minister Nazim said that the filter issue has now been resolved. He stated that filters from the brand previously used have been obtained and are now being used. The minister also said that the work to relocate the Thalassemia Center to Orange Hiyaa was not related to the protests but part of the ministry's previous plans.

Therefore, the minister said that Thalassemia patients will soon have access to services at a more spacious center, and that other challenges faced by Thalassemia patients will also be prioritized.

The practical work of relocating the Thalassemia Center to Orange Hiyaa in Hulhumalé Phase I began after the Dhamanaveshi building where the Thalassemia Center was operating became extremely run-down, services could not be provided there, an issue arose with filters, and the problem of having to discard blood from donors grew, leading to protests by the general public.

After the issue surfaced, President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu visited the Thalassemia Center around noon on March 23 to assess the situation and assured that solutions would be sought for the issued faced at the facility. He also stressed that he was unaware of the condition of the Thalassemia Center operating in Dhamanaveshi, as well as the state of the building.

However, he had spoken about the building during his presidential election campaign. Muizzu said that the condition of the Thalassemia Center was very poor, and due to the inability to provide good service, the death rate of Thalassemia children had also increased. He stated that during his administration, a spacious Thalassemia Center with good doctors providing quality services would be established in the capital Malé City.

A video clip of his speech from the presidential election has gone viral on social media, churning widespread criticism of the government, with many accusing him of making empty promises during his campaign, which he never intended to fulfil.