Anwar conferred highest honor for service in health sector

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, on Tuesday, has conferred the Highest Honor for Service to the Maldives Health Sector Medal on Moosa Anwar.

Anwar was formally presented with the honor at the official reception held on Tuesday morning to commemorate this year’s Republic Day.

Anwar, originally from Addu City’s Meedhoo, began his career in the health sector as an interpreter at the Regional Medical Centre in Gan during the British protectorate. While working there, he undertook medical training and contributed to dental care and surgical theatre operations. In 1975, he was awarded the AOC Commendation by the Royal Air Force Gan in recognition of his dedicated service at the centre.

After the British left Gan, Moosa Anwar moved to Malé in 1977 at the request of then-president Ibrahim Nasir and joined the public service. He served as a Practical Nurse Instructor at the Allied Health Services Training Centre while also working as a dentist at the Central Hospital.

In 1979, he went to the United Kingdom to further his education and returned to the Maldives to work as a tutor at the Allied Health Services Training Centre. Over the years, he held senior positions including Assistant Director and Deputy Director of the Centre.

He later joined the Ministry of Health, serving in various roles and playing a key role in establishing regional hospitals across the Maldivian atolls. Notably, he was actively involved in improving thalassaemia treatment services, raising public awareness, and contributing to the establishment and early development of the National Thalassaemia Centre.

Moosa Anwar also provided technical expertise to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre and the Home for People with Special Needs in K. Guraidhoo. He assisted in the transition of services from the Central Hospital to the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital (IGMH) and, in his most recent role, strengthened and expanded the operations of the Maldives Food and Drug Authority.

He dedicated over 40 years to the Maldivian health sector, including more than 30 years in public service, before retiring from government service on 23 July 2009.