Majlis begins debates over motion reg. Covid-19 death linked to Kandima

The People’s Majlis has begun debates over the emergency motion that was submitted over the death of a Maldivian employee in Kandima Maldives, to Covid-19.

The emergency motion over Adam Naseer, 60, native to Maaenboodoo island in Dhaalu atoll, was presented to parliament at Tuesday’s sitting, by the MP for Kudahuvadhoo constituency, Ahmed Amir.

Submitting the motion, MP Amir revealed that the resort had rejected Adam Naseer’s request to depart the resort to seek further treatment for his deteriorating health, as he couldn’t get adequate treatment within the resort.

This resulted in his condition worsening, after which he was rushed to the Dhaalu Atoll Regional Hospital, where he passed away while receiving treatment. Authorities conducted Covid-19 tests on the deceased as he had exhibited symptoms, and his results returned positive on October 31, a day after his death. This made him the 38th victim of the global pandemic, in the Maldives.

Initial findings from a team of the Ministry of Health, indicate that there was major negligence on the resort management’s end.

MP Amir cited Adam Naseer’s family having stated that the resort management was alerted many times in several different ways regarding his ailing health and that the management had failed to approve Covid-19 testing for him, despite having been informed of obvious symptoms like his sense of taste and smell having been off. Even his colleagues are to have alerted the resort management regarding the matter.

35 parliamentarians voted in favor of beginning debates into the motion.

Adam Naseer’s family is also to have made claims of negligence on the resort management’s part, and stated that he had repeatedly sought further treatment at a proper health facility, which were neglected.

On November 5, the Director-General of Public Health, Maimoona Aboobakuru sought criminal investigations into Adam Naseer’s death, which is the 38th death from Covid-19 in the Maldives. Since then, the police institution and Human Rights Commission of the Maldives have launched probes into the case.

Adam Naseer’s death sparked accusations of negligence on the resort management’s end and Dr. Nazla Rafeeq had revealed that a team from the ministry had visited the resort as well as the Dhaalu Atoll Regional Hospital in an attempt to clarify information regarding the death. Initial findings of the health ministry team were shared with the Director-General via a report, following which the Director-General lodged the case at the police institution the same day.

Since the local employee’s death was confirmed a death from Covid-19, 50 people have tested positive in the resort including one tourist. Since October 31, the resort has been under monitoring with restrictions in place on leaving and entering the island.

Kandima Maldives’s operations license has also been suspended by the Ministry of Tourism.