MNDF hands over completed thalassemia centre to Ministry

Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) has completed the relocation of the worn-down Thalassemia Centre in Male’ to the newly constructed Orange Hiyaa in Hulhumale’ Phase I and officially handed over the facility to Health Ministry on Thursday.

The Thalassemia Centre in Male’ was operationalized in 1994. Thalassemia patients and their families have repeatedly complained over the worn-down state of the facility and the failure to modernize the services provided.

The development of a state-of-the-art thalassemia facility is an electoral pledge of President Muizzu. As such, he had decided to further develop Orange Hiyaa, previously used as a COVID-19 facility, and relocate the services of the Thalassemia Centre to the premises.

In March, President tasked MNDF to take over Orange Hiyaa project, which remained largely unfinished despite the contract nearing its expiration, in an effort to fast-track its completion as part of a national undertaking.

MNDF commenced physical works on the project on March 28^th.

Prior to this, MNDF has stated that the authority’s Service Corp is handling the project under the supervision of Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon. The authority underscored that its electrical and mechanical engineers’ design team redesigned the building before commencing physical works. Some of the changes in this regard, were made to appeal to children.

Amid World Thalassemia Day celebrations on Thursday, MNDF released photos of the newly completed Thalassemia Centre. The area allocated for children has been adorned with vibrant wall murals.

The Centre was officially handed over to the Health Ministry on Thursday. Some soldiers donated blood to commemorate World Thalassemia Day as well.

MNDF soldiers have also been deployed in the past to speed up crucial national projects. For example, during former president Mohamed Nasheed's administration, the Equatorial Convention Centre in Addu City, built for the SAARC Summit, was completed with substantial help from the MNDF.

Efforts to expedite the completion of Orange Hiyaa began following protests at the Thalassemia Centre in Male’ City over concerns regarding the increase in the wastage of blood due to damage to the filters used at the centre.

In a message to the nation on the occasion of World Thalassemia Day, President Muizzu reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that children with thalassemia have equitable access to all the rights and opportunities afforded by the nation.