HRCM identifies concerning issues in Hulhumale' COVID-19 facility

The Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) has expressed concern over the condition of the COVID-19 treatment facility established in Hulhumale'. 

The HRCM visited the facility on MAY 25. In a statement issued afterward, the Commission noted a shortage of manpower in terms of nurses based on the number of admitted patients at the facility and their conditions. 

The HRCM said that there were challenges in providing adequate and necessary healthcare could for the patients in need in such a facility due to the shortage. The HRCM also said that there were delays in conveying instructions to the caretakers of the patients due to the reason and the fact that a lot of people are admitted at the facility every single day. 

The HRCM said that while families are allowed to provide food and other items for patients during specific hours, there was always an official posted to accept these items and they are taken to the designated location in the ward in a timely manner. 

However, delays were again observed when the items are taken to the patients since the nurses and attendants at the facility are once again overwhelmed due to the shortages. 

HRCM said that food for the patients is provided under the instructions of a dietician and is ordered based on the needs of the patients at the time and for the amount required. 

The HRCM noted that however, the food was not appropriate when taking into account the conditions of the patients. 

The Commission said that patients were subjected to even more difficulties and hardships other than COVID-19. 

In its statement, the Commission said that while caretakers are now permitted inside the facility to take care of the patients who cannot move around on their own, this caused a significant difficulty in terms of space and social distancing. 

While emergency contact numbers are collected from patients to inform their families of their condition and information such as bed numbers, delays still persisted in doing so due to the delays and sometimes lack of information from the wards. 

Apart from the patients, HRCM noted that employees of the facility were also faced with psychological trauma which is unaddressed and the Commission stressed on providing the workers of the facility with the psychological support they required. 

HRCM  said that maintenance workers such as cleaners at the facility worked nonstop for 12 hours a day without a break day and the Commission identified issues over unpaid wages for the workers. 

The Commission said that it was investigating some of the issues noted during the visit as complaints lodged.