The Ministry of Health has announced that work is underway to expand speech therapy services for people with disabilities to islands outside Malé.

Speaking to the Parliament’s Petitions Committee, Health Ministry's Commissioner of Quality Assurance Uza Thasleema Usman said speech therapy services were previously only available in Malé, but efforts are now underway to extend them to the atolls.

According to the Commissioner, instructions have been issued to introduce these services in Noonu Atoll, Haa Alifu Atoll, Kulhudhuffushi and Addu City, with the goal of making them available at Level 3 health facilities nationwide.

Uza Thasleema noted that occupational therapy services are not yet available in the atolls, mainly due to the shortage of qualified professionals. She said this shortage has also affected hospitals such as Ungoofaaru Regional Hospital and Thinadhoo’s Dr Abdul Samad Memorial Hospital, which have made arrangements to introduce therapy services but face delays in starting them.

To strengthen the services, national therapeutic guidelines have been developed. These guidelines outline how healthcareproviders, parents and health facility managers should support therapy for people with disabilities and aim to ensure consistency and quality across the system.