Ifham: Government Neglecting Children in Care and Persons with Disabilities
Former State Minister Ifham Hussain has expressed concern that the merger of the Gender and Health Ministries has led to a decline in focus on the social sector, causing the entire system to collapse. She specifically highlighted negligence toward children in state care and delays in providing essential services and allowances for persons with disabilities. Consequently, she called on the government to strengthen the system to ensure sustainable support for vulnerable populations.
Ifham Hussain, former State Minister for Gender, Family and Social Services. | RaajjeMV
The Maldives' social protection system has completely collapsed, and the current administration has neglected children in state care as well as persons with disabilities, according to former State Minister for Gender, Ifham Hussain.
In a social media post, Ifham stated that following the decision to merge the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social and Family Development, social services are now being managed merely at the departmental level within the Health Ministry. She noted that parents are raising concerns that this has led to a lack of necessary prioritization for the sector, resulting in a systemic failure.
Ifham highlighted that there is a noticeable decline in the overall system, particularly due to negligence in managing the welfare of children under state care.
Furthermore, he stated that the delays in registering persons with disabilities are a matter of grave concern, as these individuals are being deprived of the essential protection and basic services they are entitled to receive.
Ifham further stated that the system has collapsed, with no one held accountable for the delays in providing financial assistance to vulnerable individuals or the failure to deliver essential services to those in need.
Therefore, the government is urged to strengthen this system to ensure the sustainable delivery of essential social services.
Ifham made these remarks following the submission of a motion to the People’s Majlis, seeking to hold the National Social Protection Agency (NSPA) and relevant government authorities accountable for the inconsistent disbursement of state disability allowances.
