Minister of Health Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim has announced the Government’s initiative to digitise maternal and infant health records, in line with efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and efficiency across the nation. 

The announcement was made during a speech to mark this year’s World Health Day, which was themed “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Future” by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The theme underscores the significance of ensuring that children are born healthy and continue to grow up in good health. Minister Nazim emphasised that safeguarding the health of mothers and infants is vital to building a healthier future generation.

According to the minister, every inhabited island in the Maldives currently provides basic healthcare services to expectant mothers and newborns. He acknowledged the progress made in recent years but also stressed that more work remains to achieve a higher standard of care across all regions.

Highlighting the achievements in the maternal health sector, Minister Nazim noted that over 98 per cent of pregnant women in the Maldives are now receiving appropriate prenatal and postnatal care. He credited the structured health system for ensuring that essential information is delivered to both mothers and their partners from the time of birth.

The minister also addressed the importance of both women and men maintaining good health before conception, stating that the wellbeing of both parents significantly influences the outcome of childbirth. He pointed out that attention should be given to the younger generation preparing for parenthood, as their health and habits will directly affect the future of the nation’s children.

Minister Nazim further underlined the critical role of the first 1,000 days in a child’s life, describing this period as a time of rapid physical and cognitive development. He stressed the need to provide adequate nutrition during this stage, especially until the child reaches two years of age, in order to support healthy growth and development.

To support these goals, the Government has begun transitioning health records of mothers and infants to a digital platform. This initiative aims to streamline access to treatment data and service history, ensuring timely and efficient care through the Maldives Integrated Health Information System. The digital system is expected to enhance parental involvement by enabling easy access to vital health information and resources.

The minister’s remarks come amid wider efforts by the Government to integrate and modernise the national healthcare infrastructure during the current Administration. He reiterated the importance of maintaining and further advancing the milestones already achieved in maternal and child health.