Lab technician hired for Dhonfanu Health Centre in Baa Atoll ahead of elections despite facility lacking necessary infrastructure to provide lab services
Public criticism has mounted following the appointment of a laboratory technician at the B. Dhonfanu Health Centre despite the facility lacking an operational laboratory. Reports indicate that the position was granted to the spouse of the official currently in charge of the health centre; and while the manager has defended the move, residents allege that multiple jobs were distributed without public advertisement just prior to the recent election in an attempt to influence the vote.
B. Dhonfanu Health Center: It has been revealed that a laboratory technician was hired for the Dhonfanu Health Center ahead of the elections, despite the facility lacking the necessary infrastructure to provide laboratory services. | Dhonfanu Health Center
While the commencement date for the construction of the laboratory building at the B. Dhonfanu Health Center remains unknown, it has emerged that a laboratory technician was hired for the facility ahead of the elections held on April 4.
Speaking to RaajjeMV, a member of the PNC from Dhonfanu stated that among the civil service positions distributed ahead of the elections, the laboratory technician post was awarded to the wife of the individual currently in charge of the island’s health center.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the distribution of jobs in Dhonfanu ahead of the election, the PNC member stated that the government's significant defeat in the island was rooted in the practice of awarding positions to specific individuals outside of established regulations.
Speaking to RaajjeMV regarding the matter, Hussain Hazih, Manager of the B. Dhonfanu Health Center, stated that although the island possesses some of the equipment required for laboratory services, space constraints currently prevent the health center from providing these services on-site. He further noted that laboratory services for patients visiting the Dhonfanu Health Center are currently managed by sending samples to either Dharavandhoo or Eydhafushi.
Hazih further stated that the extension project for the island's health center was awarded to Fenaka Corporation in August last year. He noted that the work has now been subcontracted to another firm, expressing hope that construction on the new building will commence shortly and be completed swiftly to enable the commencement of laboratory services on the island. However, Hazih noted that a definitive date for the completion of the building and the subsequent launch of laboratory services remains uncertain.
When questioned about the decision to hire a laboratory technician just before the election—despite the uncertainty surrounding when laboratory services will actually commence—Hazih explained that the Dhonfanu Health Centre is already facing a staff shortage. He stated that when the opportunity arose to recruit, they chose to hire the individual to ensure they remained in the community rather than seeking employment elsewhere.
He noted that finding employment is a significant challenge in a village like Dhonfanu, where the population is steadily declining. He further clarified that although the island currently lacks laboratory services, the recruitment of a laboratory assistant was conducted in full compliance with established regulations. He added that while the employee is not performing direct laboratory duties, the technician reports to work and assists nurses with tasks such as drawing blood during periods of high demand at the health center.
RaajjeMV has learned that 10 jobs were distributed in B. Dhonfanu—a community of approximately 500 people—without any public announcement in an attempt to influence the recent local council elections. Sources report that even Civil Service positions were filled through undue influence ahead of the polls, with four such roles allegedly granted in the island during the election period.
In the most recent local council elections, the government managed to secure only a single seat in B. Dhonfanu. Furthermore, in the constitutional referendum, 80 percent of the island's population voted against the government.
