First Lady Madam Sajidha Mohamed has emphasised that good health and wellness are precious gifts fundamentally linked to human safety.

Speaking at the World Diabetes Day 2024 ceremony held at Dhiggaru island of Meemu Atoll, the First Lady observed that the transition from a low-income to developing nation status in the Maldives has brought about significant changes in public health patterns. She noted that whilst communicable diseases once dominated health concerns, Maldives now grapples with diet and lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Speaking further, she highlighted the hereditary nature of diabetes, stressing that diet and lifestyle choices play a crucial role in its management. She reflected on the country's less prosperous era, noting how Maldivians maintained healthier habits through better nutrition and physical activity. She also identified the change in eating habits, meal portions, and exercise routines as primary drivers of the rising diabetes rates in the country.

During the ceremony, the First Lady launched the "Lifestyle Intervention Programme" designed to evaluate how sustainable behavioural changes might reduce diabetes risk and other non-communicable diseases. The initiative will screen Dhiggaru residents aged 16 and above, focusing on those at elevated risk of diabetes to assess how lifestyle modifications impact their health outcomes. Currently, ten Dhiggaru residents have been trained as lifestyle coaches to support the programme.

The International Diabetes Federation has designated "Diabetes and Wellbeing" as this year's World Diabetes Day theme, encompassing mental, physical and social welfare aspects.