President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has said that the enhanced insurance coverage services will extend to newborns with heart conditions and include assistance and support to the families.

Speaking at a ceremony held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tiny Hearts of Maldives NGO, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih said that National Social Protection Agency and Aasandha are working to resolve issues in the social health insurance scheme, and that the NGO will be consulted in their area of expertise.

President Solih said that many newborns have lost their lives to heart conditions, which are common throughout the globe and that prior to the establishment of Tiny Hearts, many Maldivians were unaware that such heart conditions in newborns are a result of congenital heart conditions. He added that the issue was brought to the governments’ attention through awareness efforts by Tiny Hearts.

President Solih highlighted that through the efforts of Tiny Hearts over the past decade, the lives of a resounding number of newborns have been saved through early diagnosis. He also praised the efforts of the founding members of Tiny Hearts, Ali Muaz and Fathimath Hishmath Faiz, as a national service.

Noting Tiny Heart’s remarkable healthy lifestyle programmes, the President assured that the government will work closely with NGOs to further promote healthier lifestyles and wellness programmes conducted by civil society groups for the benefit of the society.

Tiny Hearts of Maldives is an association established in memory of Keyaan, the firstborn son of Ali Muaz and Fathimath Hishmath Faiz, the founders of the association. Keyaan was born with a congenital heart condition, which resulted in his untimely passing at the age of two and a half months.