Ihavandhoo dialysis halts after doctor leaves abruptly

Dialysis services at the Ihavandhoo Health Center in Haa Alifu Atoll were suspended on Saturday following the unexpected departure of a doctor prior to his scheduled leave.

The dialysis service at the Ihavandhoo Amina Dhiyo Memorial Hospital (IADMH) was officially launched on February 27. On Sunday, several individuals voiced concerns on social media regarding the suspension of services since the doctor's departure.

An official from Ihavandhoo Hospital confirmed that the doctor left without receiving prior leave approval. The official emphasized that dialysis, a vital medical treatment for failed kidneys, cannot be performed without a medical professional. Efforts are underway to secure a replacement doctor, with another expected to arrive in Ihavandhoo on Monday.

Ihavandhoo Council President Ahmed Sabah stated that the doctor's sudden departure was due to an emergency, confirming the suspension of dialysis services. Sabah added that the center is actively working to bring in another doctor, noting that approximately seven individuals regularly receive dialysis services at the Ihavandhoo center.

A comment from a health ministry official was not immediately available on the matter.

Ihavandhoo, one of the northernmost islands in the Maldives, is remotely located within its atoll, where islands are widely spaced. Besides the atoll's capital, H.A. Dhidhdhoo, Ihavandhoo hosts the only other dialysis center. The speedboat ride to Dhidhdhoo from Ihavandhoo takes approximately 40 minutes.