National strategic plans launched for controlling TB and HIV

The Ministry of Health has launched five-year national strategic plans for controlling tuberculosis (TB) and HIV in the Maldives.

The plans were launched at a ceremony at Traders Hotel this morning, by Defence Minister and Acting Minister of Health Mohamed Nazim. Speaking at the ceremony, Nazim urged everyone to work together towards achieving the goals stated in the strategic plans launched today.

He said that over the next three months, procedures would be put in place to ensure that foreigners are screened at specified health centres prior to being allowed entry to the Maldives. He mentioned that although the overall number of TB cases in the country has gone down, there has been an increase in the number of confirmed cases among foreigners coming from neighbouring countries.

The strategic plan on TB includes procedures on identifying, treating, and testing for the disease. It sets out goals such as reducing the number of TB cases by 25 percent by 2019, and commencing the provision of international standard services for TB patients at all centres run under Health Ministry before the end of 2015.

The strategic plan on HIV details procedures on providing services focused on high-risk groups, introducing programs to raise awareness on protection from the disease, and strengthening the policies on providing treatment. Goals in this regard include guaranteeing the availability of blood in all islands before 2020, and strengthening the procedures on blood transfusions, such as ensuring all donated blood has been tested for HIV.