The Maldivian government has established a national strategic action plan to combat tuberculosis.

The action plan was inaugurated during a ceremony held at the Hotel Jen in capital city Malé. The state is to spend MVR 170 million to enforce the plan.

The Health Ministry’s statistics reveal that about 150-200 people die of tuberculosis annually in the Maldives.

Health Minister Abdulla Nazim said at the ceremony that tackling serious illnesses has been a point of pride for the government, and that President Abdulla Yameen in particular has been supportive.

Minister Nazim then said that the government is also working to eradicate HIV transmitted from mother to child.

The action plan was officially inaugurated by President Abdulla Yameen.

The World Health Organization had in 2015 awarded the government for eradicating lymphatic filariasis, and against in 2016 for eradicating malaria, and then in 2017 for eradicating measles.