WHO, health ministers discuss strengthening COVID-19 response in South East Asia

World Health Organization (WHO)’s Regional Director for South East Asia, Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, has engaged in discussions with the health ministers of 11 South East Asian countries regarding strengthening the response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the region.

The discussions were held via video conferencing on Thursday, April 2. The meeting was attended on behalf of Maldives by Health Minister Abdulla Ameen, who was accompanied by the WHO Representative to Maldives, Dr. Arvind Mathur, and the Director General of Public Health, Maimoona Aboobakuru.

Discussions focused on the measures imposed by governments to curb the spread of the virus in their respective countries.

At the meeting, Minister Ameen noted the support extended to Maldives by its neighboring countries during every such crisis, and expressed his gratitude.

He also briefed the WHO and other governments regarding the situation in Maldives, and the measures in place to curb the spread of the virus in the country.

According to the Health Ministry, the meeting was also attended by health experts engaged in organizing COVID-19 response efforts out of the WHO headquarters, who briefed the governments regarding their work.

WHO called on all countries to strengthen their COVID-19 response. And the countries which requested additional assistance were provided with additional guidance.

Before concluding the meeting, WHO provided assurance of their assistance in curbing the spread of the virus; including supplying countries with diagnostic kits, reagents, and other medical equipment needed to treat patients.

Total 19 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maldives. The figure includes two Italian nationals who departed from Maldives before they were identified as positive for the disease.

13 of them, all foreign nationals who were either vacationing or working in resorts or safaris, have since recovered.

The number of active cases stands at four, all of whom are Maldivian nationals who travelled back from the UK.