Gov’t remains committed to decentralize basic services, says President Solih

Recently completed development projects in Gan island of Laamu atoll mirrors the government’s commitment to decentralize basic services, says President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

On Thursday, the president embarked on a trip to two islands of Laamu atoll where he visited Kadhdhoo island and Gan island, the latter saw the inauguration of several development projects including the CT scan service at Laamu Gan Regional Hospital, Laamu Gan Zone Stadium and the Laamu Gan Central Power Plant.

In his remarks during the inauguration event, the president shed light on the government’s development priorities for the atoll, going on to announce plans to develop a cancer hospital in Gan island under the financial assistance provided by the government of neighboring India.

Noting that the establishment of a tertiary level hospital in Laamu Atoll will pave way for the provision of CT scanning services, boasting high-quality and modern health equipment, the president stated that the hospital greatly enhances healthcare accessibility for the local community, who no longer need to travel to the capital to access basic healthcare needs.

Further, the establishment of an electric power station will reap several benefits for the community and ensures that their electricity needs are met, said Solih, who added that the newly established football stadium that meets FIFA standards in the atoll also reflects on the government’s purpose to decentralize sports by facilitating large-scale sports events and activities nationwide.

Touching down on his administration’s projects planned to be inaugurated in the atoll during the upcoming year, Solih noted that this is being done with the purpose to bring swift development to the region.

Some of the projects announced by the president include forming a regional emergency operations center in Fonadhoo to strengthen disaster-resilience, constructing harbors, enhancing water and sewerage systems, developing roads, building police stations as well as developing football stadiums.

Plans are also underway to establish an ice plant in accordance with efforts to enhance the country’s fisheries sector, by the upcoming year, the president announced.

Further emphasizing on rehabilitating and reintegrating victims of substance abuse back into the society as responsible and productive citizens, Solih stated that the government has crafted an action plan specifically to address such issues through campaigns that revolve around reducing the use of drugs among the youth community, bringing an end to drug smuggling networks in prisons, establishing more rehabilitation facilities and ensuring that Maldives is “never used as a transit point” for drug trafficking.